Diatom frustule photonic crystal geometric and optical characterization

Diatom algae are single-celled, photosynthetic organisms with a cell wall called a frustule—a periodically patterned nano-structure made of silica. Throughout the last decade, diatom frustules have been studied for their potential uses as photonic crystals and biomimetic templates for artificially developed metamaterials. A MATLAB program characterizing their pore structure as a function of angle was developed, potentially giving insight into how their geometric characteristics determine their optical properties.