Firefly inspires brighter LEDs

An organic light-emitting diode that mimics the three-layered structure of a firefly’s lantern shines brighter than previous designs (Nano Lett. 2016, DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b05183). The bioinspired OLED could be used to make TVs and computer screens that use less energy. Ki-Hun Jeong of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology and colleagues started by studying firefly lanterns. Previous studies had established that micro- and nanostructures in the chitin cuticle covering these creatures’ tail-end lantern organs help improve light transmission.