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An ancient method-inspired route for fast fabrication of ‘PbS bird feathers’

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2013

Xiaowei Liu
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
Yongwen Tan
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
Fangyu Zhang
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
Peilu Ouyang
Affiliation:
Shanghai Nan Yang Model High School, Shanghai 200030, PR China
Jiajun Gu*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, PR China
Di Zhang*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, PR China
*
Address all correspondence to Jiajun Gu and Di Zhang atgujiajun@sjtu.edu.cn and zhangdi@sjtu.edu.cn
Address all correspondence to Jiajun Gu and Di Zhang atgujiajun@sjtu.edu.cn and zhangdi@sjtu.edu.cn
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Abstract

Many studies have been carried out to thoroughly understand the colorization mechanisms of bird feathers. However, most of the methods used so far are time-consuming (in days) and involve rather complicated steps (5 to 12). Here, we report a rapid way of producing ‘PbS bird feathers’; this method is inspired by a hair-dyeing method used in ancient Egypt 4000 years ago. The complete synthesis route comprises only two steps and can be completed within 2 h, with the original morphologies of bird feathers well preserved. This method has potential to be extended to the fast fabrication of other functional sulfides which are too complicated to fabricate otherwise.

Type
Research Letters
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013

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