Mechanism of infrared detection and transduction by beetle Melanophila Acuminata

Israelowitz, Meir; Kwon, Jeong-Ah; Rizvi, Syed Wajih; Gille, Christoph; Schroeder, Herb P. von

doi:10.1016/s1672-6529(11)60018-8

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Consequently infrared detectors have to be able to separate a signal from the background of the ambient 6 New Journal of Science radiation, which is defined as noise [49]. As the statistical fluctuations of the background photon flux incident on the detector (photon noise) increase with the detector area [50][51][52], the Melanophila acuminata adaptation for this is the small pinhole size of individual sensilla which would reduce the thermal noise [8]. Kirchhoff 's law states that energy conservation is required if a body is in thermal equilibrium with its surrounding environment:…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The black fire beetle, Melanophila acuminata, is one of those insects which possess a pair of natural infrared detectors [6]. The position and composition of the infrared sensors in M. acuminata, which are shown in Figures 1(a), 1(b), and 1(c), have been extensively studied by us and other groups [7,8]. In our recent work we found that the tulip-shaped protein region within each sensillum with its lipid borders is highly sensitive for infrared radiation at wavelengths around 3 m and between 10 and 25 m [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The position and composition of the infrared sensors in M. acuminata, which are shown in Figures 1(a), 1(b), and 1(c), have been extensively studied by us and other groups [7,8]. In our recent work we found that the tulip-shaped protein region within each sensillum with its lipid borders is highly sensitive for infrared radiation at wavelengths around 3 m and between 10 and 25 m [8]. In order to use a biomimetic approach to transfer this intriguing idea from nature into modern technical applications such as an infrared microchip, several points need to be considered.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biomimetic-Inspired Infrared Sensors from Zn3P2 Microwires: Study of Their Photoconductivity and Infrared Spectrum Properties

Israelowitz¹,

Weyand

Leiterer

et al. 2014

New Journal of Science

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The fire beetle, Melanophila acuminata (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), senses infrared radiation at wavelengths of 3 and 10–25 microns via specialized protein-containing sensilla. Although the protein denatures outside of a biological system, this detection mechanism has inspired our bottom-up approach to produce single zinc phosphide microwires via vapour transport for IR sensing. The Zn3P2 microwires were immobilized and electrical contact was made by dielectrophoresis. Photoconductivity measurements have been extended to the near IR range, spanning the Zn3P2 band gaps. Purity and integrity of the Zn3P2 microwires including infrared light scattering properties were confirmed by infrared transmission microscopy. This biomimetic microwire shows promise for infrared chip development.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biomimetic-Inspired Infrared Sensors from Zn3P2 Microwires: Study of Their Photoconductivity and Infrared Spectrum Properties

Israelowitz¹,

Weyand

Leiterer

et al. 2014

New Journal of Science

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“…Instead of calculating the sensitivity, researchers also tried to estimate the distance from which the beetle can sense forest fires based on measured sensitivities. The resulting distances range from 50 m to 13 km [2,8,18,23,24]. It is obvious that a distance of 50 m is not sufficient to find a forest fire.…”

Section: Sensitivity Of the Beetlementioning

confidence: 99%

The development of a μ -biomimetic uncooled IR-Sensor inspired by the infrared receptors of Melanophila acuminata

et al. 2015

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The beetle Melanophila acuminata uses a specialized organ to detect infrared radiation. The organ consists of about 100 individual sensilla. The main component of the sensillum is a pressure chamber. Upon absorption of radiation, the pressure increases, and the tip of a dendrite is deformed. A unique feature of the organ is a compensation mechanism that prevents large pressures. The beetle uses this organ to detect forest fires and to navigate inside burning woods. However, the sensitivity is part of a long-lasting discussion, providing thresholds between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. To end the decade-long discussion and to provide a novel type of infrared sensor, we are developing an uncooled μ-biomimetic infrared (IR) sensor inspired by Melanophila acuminata using MEMS technology. Here, we present the development of a μ-capacitor that is used to detect pressure changes and the characterization of the compensation mechanism. We describe the microtechnological fabrication process for air-filled capacitors with a ratio of diameter-to-electrode distance of 1000 and a technique to fill the sensor bubble-free with water. Finally, we estimate the sensitivity of the beetle using a theoretical model of the sensillum.

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Bioinspired Infrared Sensing Materials and Systems

Shen

Luo

et al. 2018

Advanced Materials

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Bioinspired engineering offers a promising alternative approach in accelerating the development of many man-made systems. Next-generation infrared (IR) sensing systems can also benefit from such nature-inspired approach. The inherent compact and uncooled operation of biological IR sensing systems provides ample inspiration for the engineering of portable and high-performance artificial IR sensing systems. This review overviews the current understanding of the biological IR sensing systems, most of which are thermal-based IR sensors that rely on either bolometer-like or photomechanic sensing mechanism. The existing efforts inspired by the biological IR sensing systems and possible future bioinspired approaches in the development of new IR sensing systems are also discussed in the review. Besides these biological IR sensing systems, other biological systems that do not have IR sensing capabilities but can help advance the development of engineered IR sensing systems are also discussed, and the related engineering efforts are overviewed as well. Further efforts in understanding the biological IR sensing systems, the learning from the integration of multifunction in biological systems, and the reduction of barriers to maximize the multidiscipline collaborations are needed to move this research field forward.

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Mechanism of infrared detection and transduction by beetle Melanophila Acuminata

Cited by 8 publications

References 50 publications

Biomimetic-Inspired Infrared Sensors from Zn3P2 Microwires: Study of Their Photoconductivity and Infrared Spectrum Properties

Biomimetic-Inspired Infrared Sensors from Zn3P2 Microwires: Study of Their Photoconductivity and Infrared Spectrum Properties

The development of a μ -biomimetic uncooled IR-Sensor inspired by the infrared receptors of Melanophila acuminata

Bioinspired Infrared Sensing Materials and Systems

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