AR Microstructures in Nature

MOTHEYE Technology:

• The eyes of nocturnal insects such as moths, are found to reflect little or no light. No glare or glint is observed regardless of the angle of incidence of the illuminating light or the light wavelength.

• Electron microscope images of moth corneas reveal a surface covered with 200nm deep cone structures arrayed in a hexagonal grid with a spacing of 200nm. (Bernhard, C.G., "Structural and functional Adaptation in a visual system", Endeavour, 26, pgs. 79-84, 1967)

• Surface structures theorized to operate as an ideal graded index layer where the optical density increases gradually as a function of depth. (Clapham, P.B. and Hutley, M.C., "Reduction of lens reflexion by the Moth Eye' principle", Nature, 244, 281-2, Aug. 3, 1973)

• This surface structure anti-reflection principle was well known to radar and microwave engineers with experience working in anechoic chambers