Abigail L Whittock, Xuefei Ding, Xavier E Ramirez Barker, Nazia Auckloo, Rebecca A Sellers, Jack M Woolley, Krishnan Tamareselvy, Marine Vincendet, Christophe Corre, Emma Pickwell-MacPherson and Vasilios G Stavros

Biomimicry has become a key player in researching new materials for a whole range of applications. In this study, we have taken a crude extract from the red algae Palmaria palmata containing mycosporine-like amino acids – a photoprotective family of molecules. We have applied the crude extract onto a surface to assess if photoprotection, and more broadly, light-to-heat conversion, is retained; we found it is. Considering sunscreens as a specific application, we have performed transmission and reflection terahertz spectroscopy of the extract and glycerol to demonstrate how one can monitor stability in real-world applications.

Chemical Science. June 2023