We developed an easy, upscalable process to prepare lateral spin-valve devices on epitaxially grown monolayer graphene on SiC(0001) and perform nonlocal spin transport measurements. We observe the longest spin relaxation times τ S in monolayer graphene, while the spin diffusion coefficient D S is strongly reduced compared to typical results on exfoliated graphene.The increase of τ S is probably related to the changed substrate, while the cause for the small value of D S remains an open question.Spin transport in graphene draws great attention since the observation of spin relaxation lengths of λ S = 2 µm, with spin relaxation times in the order of τ S = 150 ps at room temperature (RT) in

BackgroundThe colorful wing patterns of butterflies, a prime example of biodiversity, can change dramatically within closely related species. Wing pattern diversity is specifically present among papilionid butterflies. Whether a correlation between color and the evolution of these butterflies exists so far remained unsolved.ResultsWe here investigate the Cattlehearts, Parides, a small Neotropical genus of papilionid butterflies with 36 members, the wings of which are marked by distinctly colored patches. By applying various physical techniques, we investigate the coloration toolkit of the wing scales. The wing scales contain two different, wavelength-selective absorbing pigments, causing pigmentary colorations. Scale ridges with multilayered lamellae, lumen multilayers or gyroid photonic crystals in the scale lumen create structural colors that are variously combined with these pigmentary colors.ConclusionsThe pigmentary and structural traits strongly correlate with the taxonomical distribution of Parides species. The experimental findings add crucial insight into the evolution of butterfly wing scales and show the importance of morphological parameter mapping for butterfly phylogenetics.

The body and elytra of the diamond weevil, Entimus imperialis, is studded with numerous brightly colored scales. The scales exhibit brilliant reflections because they contain unusually large diamond-type photonic crystals. The scales are concentrated in pits on the otherwise black elytra. This framing enhances the color contrast when the weevil is observed from nearby. From a distance the diamond weevil looks green, alike green foliage. Another weevil, Eupholus cuvieri, has also scales with green reflective photonic crystals, but here the scales are arranged closely apposed on the planar elytra. Both weevils use photonic crystals for camouflage, but the display methods are different.