Electrodynamic modeling of leafhopper brochosomes for synthetic antireflective coatings*

Insect-inspired materials hold strong promise to solve many global challenges and applied in functional materials including adhesives, sensors, actuators, hydrophobic and optically active surfaces. There still exists a knowledge gap in designing and developing nature-based materials. Leafhopper (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) secreted brochosomes, hollow buckyball-like multifunctional nanostructures, are a promising material relevant for the development of synthetic coatings with antireflective and hydrophobic behavior. Using electrodynamic near-field modeling simulations, we study the optical properties by varying the brochosome geometry, arrangements (ordered/disordered with different packing fractions), material properties, and leafhopper species. Simulations are used to model scenarios where the pits are filled in with different materials, directing the design of new non-natural hypothetical structures not evolved by leafhoppers. Experiments with purified brochosomes are used to determine various optical parameters, and compared to simulations, with the results being indicative of the rearrangements in spatial electric field distribution in the spectral regime being tied to the geometric configurations in these brochosomes.