Nanostructures and their Effects on Phase Change

How do nanostructures in the blue morpho butterfly affect the phase change of different light

colors and can be used in technologies?

Physics

Word Count: 3,989 words

May 2023
Table of Contents

Introduction 2

Purpose 3

Hypothesis 4

Terminology 5

Background Information 7

Theory 8

Data Collection 10

Data Analysis 14

Applications 16

Works Cited 20

Appendix 23

2
Introduction

I have always found the way we perceive light fascinating since I was a child. I

remember looking at the bathroom tiles in my school and watching the color change from dark

brown to purple as I shifted my head at different angles. When I saw a video on youtube talking

about how rare the color blue is in nature and the nanostructures within the blue morpho butterfly

that allows for the color, I was inundated by how these nanostructures, structures between 1 and

100 nanometers, are impossible to see manipulate what we can see. Nanoscience is an interesting

part of science that combines biology with physics and aims to manipulate atoms and molecules

in a microscopic way to transform the world on a larger scale. Science fiction often portrays

nanotechnology as the manipulation of atoms as a way to shrink users, whereas, in reality, the

manipulation of atoms involves manipulating the structures of atoms to create devices, materials,

and structures in sectors such as medicine, energy, materials, and manufacturing. Although one

might have the notion that only humans can create nanostructures, nanostructures can be found

in nature, and living animals often use nanostructures to control the world around them, such as

geckos using it on their feet to stick to walls and lotus leafs using it to make rain fall off their

leaves.

Purpose

Over the past decade, there has been more interest in the microscale world, specifically

nanotechnology and its applications to the world as well as the sustainability of the world. One

way to create more sustainable technology is through modeling the physics of the world around

us, and nanostructures allow us to change the microworld to affect the macroworld. The morpho

butterfly utilizes nanostructures for humans to only perceive blue light, and the reasons behind

3
this phenomenon can be studied. The purpose of this essay is to explore how nanostructures

affect phase change within the morpho butterfly and how future technologies could use

these nanostructures to help utilize nature around the world and to increase the harmony

between the world and humans as sustainability becomes a goal to live on Earth. How do

nanostructures in the blue morpho butterfly affect the phase change of different light colors with

varying angles and can be used in technologies?

Hypothesis

Although I am not doing an experiment, as shown in a video1 in which the main narrator

discusses why blue morpho butterflies are blue, my hypothesis is that the refracted ray and

reflected wave will have interference due to a difference in the wavelengths and that I will be

able to calculate that phase shift that will cause destructive interference in all of the colors except

blue and indigo, which will have constructive interference, and hence we will be able to perceive

blue light. I also hypothesize, by using the research papers I have searched, that the structures in

the scales that cause wave interference have practical applications applicable in technologies

regarding the safety and well-being of the planet and people.

This paper's methodology is theoretical as experimentation on butterflies raises ethical

questions, and instead, I will use science journals and papers that I found on google scholar. The

papers I have chosen to base my paper on write about the effects of nanostructures on the view of

colors and bring statistics and information about how the nanostructures are structured and then

diverge into the recreation of these nanostructures, Thus I will be using the first half of the

1
It's Okay To Be Smart. “Why Is Blue so Rare in Nature?” YouTube, 9 Jan. 2018,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g246c6Bv58.

4
papers about how these nanostructures in the blue morpho butterfly effect color thus are relevant

to my paper. Not only this, but these papers are papers posted to scientific journals such as

Advanced Optical Materials and the Royal Society, making it reliable as these institutions check

the papers for reliable data before posting it to these journals. I will use the equations researched

in these papers and input angles from 25 and increasing in increments of 5 up to 90 degrees to

find the phase change for different wavelengths of light. I will be using wavelengths starting

from 400 nanometers and increasing in increments of 20 up to 770 nanometers, thus, fully

covering the visible spectrum as the phase shift of other wavelengths is irrelevant as the human

eye can’t see it.

Terminology

Nanostructures within the scales of the butterfly rely on manipulating light which is a

wave. Waves are oscillations that travel from one medium to another and range from radio waves

with a low frequency to gamma rays with the highest frequency. The frequency is the number of

oscillations per second and is measured in hertz. Human eyes can detect the visible light

spectrum, which has a frequency between 4 × 1014 hertz to 8 × 1014 hertz, which is between the

infrared and ultraviolet spectrum. Visible light behaves as both a wave and a particle, but this

essay will use its wave properties and, more specifically, refraction, reflection, and wave

interference.

5
 Figure 12: An example of a wave function

Although waves such as visible light waves can be calculated in hertz, another way to

describe waves is through wavelength, which is the distance between the wave's crests or point

𝑣
A to point B in Figure 1. The wavelength can be calculated by the equation 𝑓
= λ where v is

the speed of the wave and f is the frequency and λ is the wavelength. Since all light emitted

travels at the speed of 299,702,547 meters per second, we can calculate the wavelength of

different light colors by dividing 299,702,547 by the hertz.

Refraction of waves affects the wavelength and hence the speed of a wave. Refraction

occurs when light passes through one medium into another, causing the light path to bend either

in the same or opposite direction. It is dependent on the relative speed of both mediums, and if

the light passes from a fast medium to a slow one, the light will refract in the opposite direction

of the incident angle, and going from a slow to a fast medium, it will reflect in the same direction

toward the incident angle. The equation is constructed using the speed of the wave in both

2
Figure created by Candidate

6
mediums, the refractive index, and the angle it which it approaches and departs the medium and

is given in the equation 𝑛1 · 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ1 = 𝑛2 · 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ2 otherwise known as Snell’s Law. In this

equation, the n refers to the refractive index of a wave in a medium, and refractive index is the

measure of the bending of a wave of light when passing from one medium into another. This is

different for different mediums and can be researched. On the other hand, reflection does not

affect the wave's speed or wavelength. Reflection occurs when a wave interacts with a medium

such as glass and, unlike refraction, does not go through the medium but instead changes the

wave's direction with the same incidence angle.

Wave interference occurs when two or more waves interact and can cause destructive or

constructive interference, where waves combine or cancel each other out. Constructive

interference occurs when there is a phase shift of a whole integer, while deconstructive

interference occurs when there is a half of an integer phase shift. Phase shift means that two

waves or more are at different points within their oscillation, and hence the difference between

these can be calculated to determine whether it is deconstructive or constructive. Two waves to

have interference, the phase shift can be different, but the waves must have the same frequency,

wavelength, and velocity.

One specific interference is thin-film interference, which is more commonly associated

with soap bubbles. Thin film interference uses reflection and refraction to cause interference

within light waves. This is done by the first light being refracted through a medium as well as

being reflected. The refracted wave is then reflected toward the reflected ray, and the difference

in the wavelength causes a phase shift; hence destructive or constructive interference can occur.

7
Background Information

Figure 2: Siddique, Radwanul Hasan, et al. “Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of the
Structural Pattern Responsible for the Iridescence of Morpho Butterflies.”

Blue morpho butterflies are a type of butterfly found in parts of Latin America, such as in

the Amazon and Atlantic forests. The blue morpho butterfly relies on nanostructures to

manipulate light waves that affect how color is perceived, and they use this to their advantage to

camouflage in the rainforests against predators. As they fly, the difference between the brown

underside of their wings and their wings causes them to look like they are disappearing and

reappearing. The nanostructures that cause this are constructed in tree-like forms on the scales of

the butterfly, as seen in Figure 2. Each scale has hundreds of ridges made of cuticles that have a

gap of approximately 1-micrometer μm3, and each ridge is made of multilayered thin film

lamella, thus categorizing the scale into ridge lamellae scales4. The lamellar structure is

constructed by alternating cuticle and air layers. The Blue Morpho scale is wavelength selective

as the vertical spacing between the lamellae structure is around 200 to 300 nanometers which is

approximately half the wavelength of the blue color irradiated from the scales. In each scale, the

3
Butt et al., “MorphoButterfly-Inspired Nanostructures”
4
Butt et al., “MorphoButterflies:MorphoButterfly-Inspired Nanostructures (Advanced Optical
Materials 4/2016)”

8
ridges are placed at random heights, causing the second cause of blue light being irradiated,

interference between waves.

Theory

Figure 35: Mathematical model behind thin film interference

In order for the phase shift to be calculated, the optical difference must be calculated

using equations similar to that of thin-film interference. The optical difference can be seen in

Figure 3 as

𝑂𝑃𝐷 = 𝑛2(𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵𝐶) − 𝑛1(𝐴𝐷).

Since there is a difference between the reflected wave to the point where the refracted

wave travels back through the medium, the difference must be used to find the difference

between the wavelengths.

5
Figure created by Candidate

9
For finding the length of AB, simple trigonometry can be used by finding the hypotenuse. By

dividing the length of the thin film, E in Figure 3, by the cosine of the refracted angle, we can

find the hypotenuse and double it because there are two wavelengths, hence the equation for

2𝐸
(𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵𝐶) is (𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵𝐶) = 𝑐𝑜𝑠(θ2)
.

To find, (𝐴𝐷), once again trigonometry must be used. To find (𝐴𝐶), the refracted angle

and D can be used hence (𝐴𝐶) = 2𝐸𝑡𝑎𝑛(θ2). Thus (𝐴𝐶) = 2𝐸𝑡𝑎𝑛(θ2)𝑠𝑖𝑛(θ1) and can be

used to calculate the optical phase difference.

Since the wavelength of the light in the medium n2 is different due to refraction, Snell's

Law must be used to calculate the difference. 𝑂𝑃𝐷 = 𝑛2𝑠𝑖𝑛(θ2) − 𝑛1𝑠𝑖𝑛(θ1) can be substituted

2𝐸
to 𝑂𝑃𝐷 = 𝑛2( 𝑐𝑜𝑠(θ ) ) − 𝑛1(2𝐸𝑡𝑎𝑛(θ2)𝑠𝑖𝑛(θ1)).
2

𝑠𝑖𝑛(θ2)𝑛2
Since we can transform 𝑠𝑖𝑛(θ1) into, 𝑠𝑖𝑛(θ1) = 𝑛1
, the n1 cancels leaving the

2𝐸
equation 𝑂𝑃𝐷 = 𝑛2( 𝑐𝑜𝑠(θ ) ) − 2𝐸𝑡𝑎𝑛(θ2)𝑠𝑖𝑛(θ2)𝑛2. This can further be simplified by
2

removing 2𝐷𝑛2 from both sides of the equation, leaving it as

1
2𝐷𝑛2(( 𝑐𝑜𝑠(θ ) ) − 𝑡𝑎𝑛(θ2)𝑠𝑖𝑛(θ2)). This once again can be simplified as the inside of the
2

1
brackets can be simplified using double angle identity where ( 𝑐𝑜𝑠(θ ) ) − 𝑡𝑎𝑛(θ2)𝑠𝑖𝑛(θ2) is
2

2 2
1−𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ2
transformed to 𝑐𝑜𝑠θ2
to 𝑐𝑜𝑠θ2
and thus the final equation is 2𝐸𝑛2𝑐𝑜𝑠θ2 = 𝑚λ where m is an

integer that is applied to the wavelength lambda.

Data Collection

10
 By using the equation above and inputting the data for the variables, a list of output data

is created. The left-hand side of the equations can be calculated using the refractive index of the

morpho butterfly as 1.556 as N2 in Figure 3, 150 nanometers as E in Figure 3, and angles 25 to

90 degrees. Finally, the phase shift can be calculated by using the range of 400-nanometer

wavelength to 770-nanometer wavelengths as lambda and dividing the left-hand side by it.

Google sheets were used to produce a list of output data, as listed in Figure 4 below.

710

630 650 670 Wav 750

Left Wavele Wavele Wavele 690 elen 730 Wavel 770

Angle in Refracted Hand ngth ngth ngth Waveleng gth Waveleng ength Wavelength

Degrees Angle side (nm) (nm) (nm) th (nm) (nm) th (nm) (nm) (nm)

9.81

24.561745 1.11E+ 1.07E+ 1.04E+ E+0 9.29E

25 07 6.97E+12 10 10 10 1.01E+10 9 9.55E+09 +09 9.05E+09

1.46

29.561745 1.03417E 1.64E+ 1.59E+ 1.54E+ E+1 1.38E

30 07 +15 12 12 12 1.50E+12 2 1.42E+12 +12 1.34E+12

34.561745 1.53485E 2.44E+ 2.36E+ 2.29E+ 2.16 2.05E

35 07 +17 14 14 14 2.22E+14 E+1 2.10E+14 +14 1.99E+14

6
Siddique et al.

11
 4

3.20

39.561745 2.27792E 3.6157 3.5045 3.3998 3.30134E 834E 3.12044E 3.0372 2.95834E+1

40 07 +19 5E+16 E+16 8E+16 +16 +16 +16 3E+16 6

4.76

44.561745 3.38074E 5.3662 5.2011 5.0458 4.89962E 16E 4.63115E 4.5076 4.39057E+1

45 07 +21 5E+18 3E+18 7E+18 +18 +18 +18 5E+18 8

7.06

49.561745 5.01746E 7.9642 7.7191 7.4887 7.27168E 684E 6.87323E 6.6899 6.51618E+2

50 07 +23 2E+20 6E+20 4E+20 +20 +20 +20 4E+20 0

1.04

54.561745 7.44657E 1.1819 1.1456 1.1114 1.07921E 881E 1.02008E 9.9287 9.67087E+2

55 07 +25 9E+23 3E+23 3E+23 +23 +23 +23 6E+22 2

1.55

59.561745 1.10517E 1.7542 1.7002 1.6495 1.60169E 658E 1.51393E 1.4735 1.43528E+2

60 07 +28 4E+25 6E+25 1E+25 +25 +25 +25 6E+25 5

2.31

64.561745 1.64022E 2.6035 2.5234 2.4480 2.37712E 016E 2.24687E 2.1869 2.13015E+2

65 07 +30 2E+27 1E+27 8E+27 +27 +27 +27 5E+27 7

69.561745 2.4343E+ 3.8639 3.7450 3.6332 3.52796E 3.42 3.33465E 3.2457 3.16142E+2

70 07 32 6E+29 7E+29 8E+29 +29 859E +29 3E+29 9

12
 +29

5.08

74.561745 3.61281E 5.7346 5.5581 5.3922 5.23596E 847E 4.94906E 4.8170 4.69197E+3

75 07 +34 3E+31 8E+31 6E+31 +31 +31 +31 9E+31 1

7.55

79.561745 5.36189E 8.5109 8.2490 8.0028 7.77086E 196E 7.34506E 7.1491

80 07 +36 4E+33 7E+33 2E+33 +33 +33 +33 9E+33 6.9635E+33

1.12

84.561745 7.95775E 1.2631 1.2242 1.1877 1.1533E+ 081E 1.0901E+ 1.0610 1.03347E+3

85 07 +38 4E+36 7E+36 2E+36 36 +36 36 3E+36 6

1.66

89.561745 1.18104E 1.8746 1.8169 1.7627 1.71165E 343E 1.61786E 1.5747 1.53381E+3

90 07 +41 6E+38 8E+38 4E+38 +38 +38 +38 1E+38 8

Figure 47: Table of the Phase Shift for Red Light

7
Table created by candidate

13
Figure 58: The Increase of Phase Difference as the Angle Increases for Different Wavelengths

By using the data, a graph can be created, where the phase shift can be expressed in

logarithmic scale and zoomed in to see that each wavelength is a different equation that is

parallel to each other and the difference between each line is constant.

Data Analysis

The nanostructures in the morpho butterfly affect the wavelength shift between the

reflected and refracted wave, although it might not be what was originally hypothesized. It

increases the phase change exponentially as the refracted angle increases, but the phase change is

an integer for all of the wavelengths; for example, as seen in Figure 4, the phase shift for 770

wavelengths at angle 25 is 9.05E+09 which is an integer; hence all the wavelengths have

constructive interference. Since none of the waves constructively interfere, humans will be able

8
Graph created by the Candidate

14
to perceive all wavelengths of waves, and hence humans will perceive color. This can be seen in

Figure 5, which shows how for all wavelengths, as the angle increases, the graph increases

linearly as the graph is in logarithmic form. By analyzing the graph, it is established that each

wavelength will have a unique phase shift for every angle but that the change rate at which the

phase difference changes is constant. Although the data doesn’t show interference, the phase

change for waves at a lower wavelength is significantly higher than that of higher wavelengths as

higher wavelengths have more oscillations per distance; hence the phase shift is smaller. This can

be seen in Figure 4, in which wavelengths of 770 nanometers at angle 25 have a phase shift of

9.05E+09 nanometers, while a wavelength of 630 nanometers at the same angle has a phase shift

of 1.11E+10 nanometers. By analyzing the data of the phase changes, we are further able to find

fascinating effects of the nanostructures on phase change.

For two varying wavelengths, the phase change of one wavelength for an angle divided

by the phase change shift of a second wavelength of the same angle always results in the same

change for the two wavelengths. Using data from Figure 4, the phase change of wavelength 630

at angle 35 divided by wavelength 650 at the same angle is equal to 1.033898305084746

nanometers which are proportional to any other two angles for the same wavelengths concluding

phase change between the two waves is proportional, and if the phase change of one wavelength

and the proportion is known, the phase change of the second wave is known.

The most interesting calculation that can be derived from the data collected is by dividing

the phase change of any wavelength by the former phase change; the answer will always be

148.076923076923077. As seen in Figure 4, if angle 35 of the wavelength 670 by angle 30 of the

same wavelength, 148.076923076923077 is the answer. This can be done for all the data points

and result in the same number. This is important because this allows one to find the next phase

15
change of any wavelength as long as we know one of the phase changes. By using this concept,

we can create an equation to approximate the phase change by using the fact that for every 5

degrees added, the phase change multiplies by 148.076923076923077; thus, a geometric series

equation can be used. Since the angle is increments of 5, by using the 5th root of

148.076923076923077, we find 2.717049035249631. By using this, we can create the equation

un=u1*2.717049035249631n-1 where n is an angle; hence, we can calculate the phase change of

any given angle to an accurate degree as long as one of the phase changes is known for

wavelength as well as its angle. This provides evidence that nanostructures affect phase changes

in a mathematical way and can be computed using series. Hence nanostructures rely on the

mathematics to model this on computers, providing insight into the mathematical nature of phase

changes and nanostructures. This understanding through the use of studying nanostructures such

as those in morpho butterflies leads us to be able to use this in technology for the future better as

more complex modeling can be done through mathematics.

Applications

This study of nanostructures in butterflies, and specifically morpho butterflies, might

seem arduous, but it provides further insight into the world's physics and how easily it can be

manipulated to bring about change. There is an infinite way in which nanostructures

manipulating light waves can be applied such as by using nanostructures and refractive

properties within paint, nanostructures could create refraction of light and make more visible

signs under foggy conditions where signs such as stop signs might not be as visible as before.

Conversely, it could be used in military uses to camouflage as, at different angles, it could reflect

specific wavelengths, helping disguise whatever is being hidden, similar to the way blue morpho

butterflies camouflage.

16
 One of the most promising uses of the nanostructures above is the manipulation of ink in

inkjet technology to be able to change the absorption and drying times as well as the

permanency9 and the color of different inks. This is promising as using nanostructures

comparable to those of the Blue Morpho butterfly in inks allows for higher safety processes in ID

cards and documents. Ordinary ID cards use minuscule dots of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black

mixed together to achieve the desired color, but design software and ID printers’ heat variation10

often make ID cards look different from the screen and eleven within one batch of cards. This is

a safety concern as this means there is a higher chance of people being able to create fake IDs

without it being detected as it could be passed as a fault of the printer. Using nanostructures

similar to that of the blue morpho butterfly in the ink, ID card printers can make ID cards that

can’t be matched by ordinary printers, giving better security for buildings and restricted areas.

Not only this, but by using nanostructured ink, a wider variety of color options are available from

colors throughout the visible spectrum, and there is an unlimited amount of colors to create8,

hence more combinations to ensure maximum safety. Using nanostructures, each ID card batch

would have unique color codes and angles to see them, making it almost impossible to replicate

with ordinary printers. Although this may seem like a great idea, the technology that allows us to

do this is still being made and still has many technical difficulties. One of these problems is the

ability of the printer to create nanostructures with high accuracy, as it does not work otherwise.

This accuracy is difficult to achieve as, so far, scientists have tried to print using nanostructured

ink but so far have not been able to get clear red dots11 as well as it only works in narrow viewing

angles. This further demonstrates how the application of mathematical analysis of phase changes

9
Yakovlev et al.
10
Grafstein
11
Yakovlev et al.

17
is useful as the technology is highly dependent on the accuracy of the nanostructures, as the data

above provides that interference only works under specific conditions.

Another promising use of nanostructures is in solar panels. One of the main problems of

solar panels is their efficiency which is around 15 to 20%12. As a result, most of the light directed

towards the solar panels is reflected away from the cells that convert the light into energy or heat.

However, another type of solar cell that relies on thin-film interference could be one way in

which solar cells become more efficient in capturing light cells. Although thin film solar cells

have been around historically since the 1970s, the technology and efficiency have improved

significantly but their efficiency is still calculated to be 7-18%13. On the other hand, the

theoretical efficiency is calculated to be higher than that of traditional silicon solar panels12.

Hence the possibility to improve the efficiency is available compared to traditional solar cells.

One of the main problems with traditional photovoltaic and solar cells is the difficulty in

capturing lights instead of reflecting them as much of the waves are reflected14. By increasing the

cell's ability to capture the light waves through the use of phase change, causing the waves to

interfere and ultimately constructive interference, there is a higher conversion efficiency in solar

panel cells that utilize thin-film technology15. By using the mathematics surrounding phase

change, the best angles for each wavelength can be used to capture the waves for maximum

efficiency; higher wavelengths have higher energy. This is vital in solving one of the biggest

problems facing the future generation, the energy crisis, as energy switches from fossil fuels and

non-renewable resources to renewable resources such as solar panels and wind energy.

12
“How Efficient Are Solar Panels? (2020) | GreenMatch”
13
Thin-Film Solar Panels | American Solar Energy Society
14
Das
15
Siegel et al.

18
Conclusion

My hypothesis, in the end, was falsified, and one of the reasons was that my methodology

could have been improved. The data shows that there isn’t a phase change of half of a nanometer

for example in Figure 4, the wave shift of a wave with the wavelength of 770 nanometers has a

phase shift 9.05E+09 which is an integer and hence has constructive interference. The

calculations are used on one wave of light, whereas in reality, there are multiple waves of light

being emitted and thus reflected and refracted simultaneously. Although the same refracted wave

might not create deconstructive waves, waves at a distance might be able to create it. Another

main reason is that the lamella is at varying heights of 200 to 300 nanometers apart16 Therefore,

if not for the other waves spaced apart, the waves at varying heights will also contribute to the

deconstructive nature of the waves. To create a better method and hence a better analysis of the

phenomena, not only would the phase difference be needed for one wave, but the phase

difference from a lamella shifted vertically up 200 nanometers is needed. These phase

differences would then be analyzed to see whether all the wavelengths except blue and indigo

cancel each other out through deconstructive interference. Thus although my calculations don't

fit with reality, the reasons for these differences are known and hence can be rectified with

further calculations and analysis. With these rectified calculations, mathematics can be used to

create technology that helps create a better future such as safer ID badges and more efficient

solar panels such as that discussed in the applicability of these nanostructures.

Nanostructures, although impossible to see, can hugely impact what we see. By exploring

what lies behind these complex structures, we are better able and prepared to utilize them to

create the world around us. The nanostructures used in the blue morpho butterfly may yet be able

Butt et al., “MorphoButterflies:MorphoButterfly-Inspired Nanostructures (Advanced Optical

16

Materials 4/2016)”

19
to be used, but the thinking behind them and the creativity to acknowledge what they could be

used for gives promise to a future in which nanostructures not only manipulate light but also in

medicine and biology as well as engineering. The rate at which the phase change increases is the

same for all wavelengths, as demonstrated by the data when one wavelength is divided by the

former. For example, using data from Figure 4, when the phase shift for a wavelength of 770 at

an angle of 30, 1.34E+12 divided by the phase shift of the same wavelength at 25 degrees is

148.076923076923077. This is the same for all phase shifts divided by the former phase shift for

all wavelengths hence demonstrating how for every 5 degrees, the phase shift is multiplied by

148.076923076923077. This means that the way we perceive the light is constant no matter what

angle because all the waves are the proportion in the rate of change. For any waves that cancel at

one angle, they will also cancel each other at any other angle because the phase change is a

multiple of each other hence the morpho butterfly uses this property that the phase change is

constant and that at all angles, the light perceived is the same to cancel all the wavelengths

except blue light. This way, the blue morpho butterflies that use this property can be replicated,

studied, and applied to technology such as inkjet and solar panel cells.

In conclusion, in answering “how do nanostructures in the blue morpho butterfly

affect the phase change of different light colors and can be used in technologies,” the

nanostructures in the blue morpho butterfly affect the phase change by causing the phase change

to shift in a mathematical sequence such that for each angle added the phase change is

multiplied. The length between the lamella can be changed but these nanostructures will continue

to affect the phase shift by multiplying it and this can be utilized in the future to help solve some

of the biggest challenges facing our generation and challenges yet to come, proving that the way

the nanoscales are manipulated creates large-scale impacts.

20
 Works Cited

Ahmed, Rajib, et al. “Morpho Butterfly-Inspired Optical Diffraction, Diffusion, and

Bio-Chemical Sensing.” RSC Advances, vol. 8, no. 48, 2018, pp. 27111–27118,

pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2018/ra/c8ra04382e, 10.1039/C8RA04382E.

Accessed 29 Dec. 2021.

Berger, Michael. Nanotechnology : The Future Is Tiny. 2022. Cambridge, Uk The Royal Society

Of Chemistry, 2016.

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 Appendix

Table 1: Phase Shift for Violet and Indigo Light

400 Wavelength 420 Wavelength

Degrees Refracted Angle Left Hand side (nm) (nm)

25 24.56174507 6.97E+12 1.74E+10 1.66E+10

30 29.56174507 1.03417E+15 2.59E+12 2.46E+12

35 34.56174507 1.53485E+17 3.84E+14 3.65E+14

40 39.56174507 2.27792E+19 5.6948E+16 5.42362E+16

45 44.56174507 3.38074E+21 8.45184E+18 8.04937E+18

50 49.56174507 5.01746E+23 1.25436E+21 1.19463E+21

55 54.56174507 7.44657E+25 1.86164E+23 1.77299E+23

60 59.56174507 1.10517E+28 2.76292E+25 2.63135E+25

65 64.56174507 1.64022E+30 4.10054E+27 3.90527E+27

70 69.56174507 2.4343E+32 6.08574E+29 5.79594E+29

75 74.56174507 3.61281E+34 9.03204E+31 8.60194E+31

80 79.56174507 5.36189E+36 1.34047E+34 1.27664E+34

85 84.56174507 7.95775E+38 1.98944E+36 1.8947E+36

90 89.56174507 1.18104E+41 2.95259E+38 2.81199E+38

Table 2: Shift for Blue Light

24
 440 460

Refracted Wavelength Wavelength 490 Wavelength

Degrees Angle Left Hand side (nm) (nm) (nm)

25 24.56174507 6.97E+12 1.58E+10 1.51E+10 1.58E+10

30 29.56174507 1.03417E+15 2.35E+12 2.25E+12 2.35E+12

35 34.56174507 1.53485E+17 3.49E+14 3.34E+14 3.13E+14

40 39.56174507 2.27792E+19 5.1771E+16 4.952E+16 4.64882E+16

45 44.56174507 3.38074E+21 7.68349E+18 7.34943E+18 6.89946E+18

50 49.56174507 5.01746E+23 1.14033E+21 1.09075E+21 1.02397E+21

55 54.56174507 7.44657E+25 1.6924E+23 1.61882E+23 1.51971E+23

60 59.56174507 1.10517E+28 2.51175E+25 2.40254E+25 2.25545E+25

65 64.56174507 1.64022E+30 3.72776E+27 3.56569E+27 3.34738E+27

70 69.56174507 2.4343E+32 5.53249E+29 5.29195E+29 4.96795E+29

75 74.56174507 3.61281E+34 8.21094E+31 7.85395E+31 7.37309E+31

80 79.56174507 5.36189E+36 1.21861E+34 1.16563E+34 1.09426E+34

85 84.56174507 7.95775E+38 1.80858E+36 1.72995E+36 1.62403E+36

90 89.56174507 1.18104E+41 2.68417E+38 2.56747E+38 2.41028E+38

Table 3: Shift for Green Light

Angle in Refracted Left Hand 510 530 550 570 Wavelength

25
Degrees Angle side Wavelength Wavelength Wavelength (nm)

(nm) (nm) (nm)

24.5617450

25 7 6.97E+12 1.37E+10 1.31E+10 1.27E+10 1.22E+10

29.5617450 1.03417E+1

30 7 5 2.03E+12 1.95E+12 1.88E+12 1.81E+12

34.5617450 1.53485E+1

35 7 7 3.01E+14 2.90E+14 2.79E+14 2.69E+14

39.5617450 2.27792E+1 4.46651E+1 4.29797E+1 4.14168E+1

40 7 9 6 6 6 3.99635E+16

44.5617450 3.38074E+2 6.62889E+1 6.37875E+1 6.14679E+1

45 7 1 8 8 8 5.93112E+18

49.5617450 5.01746E+2 9.83815E+2 9.12265E+2

50 7 3 0 9.4669E+20 0 8.80256E+20

54.5617450 7.44657E+2 1.46011E+2 1.40501E+2 1.35392E+2

55 7 5 3 3 3 1.30642E+23

59.5617450 1.10517E+2 2.08522E+2

60 7 8 2.167E+25 5 2.0094E+25 1.93889E+25

64.5617450 1.64022E+3 3.21611E+2 3.09475E+2 2.98221E+2

65 7 0 7 7 7 2.87757E+27

70 69.5617450 2.4343E+32 4.77313E+2 4.59301E+2 4.42599E+2 4.27069E+29

26
 7 9 9 9

74.5617450 3.61281E+3 7.08395E+3 6.81663E+3 6.56875E+3

75 7 4 1 1 1 6.33827E+31

79.5617450 5.36189E+3 1.05135E+3 1.01168E+3

80 7 6 4 4 9.7489E+33 9.40683E+33

84.5617450 7.95775E+3 1.56034E+3 1.50146E+3 1.44686E+3

85 7 8 6 6 6 1.3961E+36

89.5617450 1.18104E+4 2.31576E+3 2.22837E+3 2.14734E+3

90 7 1 8 8 8 2.07199E+38

Table 4: Shift for Yellow Light

Angle in Degrees Refracted Angle Left Hand side 590 Wavelength (nm)

25 24.56174507 6.97E+12 1.18E+10

30 29.56174507 1.03417E+15 1.75E+12

35 34.56174507 1.53485E+17 2.60E+14

40 39.56174507 2.27792E+19 3.86088E+16

45 44.56174507 3.38074E+21 5.73006E+18

50 49.56174507 5.01746E+23 8.50416E+20

55 54.56174507 7.44657E+25 1.26213E+23

60 59.56174507 1.10517E+28 1.87317E+25

27
 65 64.56174507 1.64022E+30 2.78003E+27

70 69.56174507 2.4343E+32 4.12592E+29

75 74.56174507 3.61281E+34 6.12341E+31

80 79.56174507 5.36189E+36 9.08795E+33

85 84.56174507 7.95775E+38 1.34877E+36

90 89.56174507 1.18104E+41 2.00175E+38

Table 5: Shift for Orange Lights

Angle in Degrees Refracted Angle Left Hand side 610 Wavelength (nm)

25 24.56174507 6.97E+12 1.14E+10

30 29.56174507 1.03417E+15 1.70E+12

35 34.56174507 1.53485E+17 2.52E+14

40 39.56174507 2.27792E+19 3.7343E+16

45 44.56174507 3.38074E+21 5.54219E+18

50 49.56174507 5.01746E+23 8.22534E+20

55 54.56174507 7.44657E+25 1.22075E+23

60 59.56174507 1.10517E+28 1.81175E+25

65 64.56174507 1.64022E+30 2.68888E+27

70 69.56174507 2.4343E+32 3.99065E+29

75 74.56174507 3.61281E+34 5.92265E+31

28
80 79.56174507 5.36189E+36 8.78999E+33

85 84.56174507 7.95775E+38 1.30455E+36

90 89.56174507 1.18104E+41 1.93612E+38

29