Characterization of broadband complex refractive index of synthetic melanin coatings and their changes after ultraviolet irradiation

Melanin, with its high refractive index (RI) and broadband absorption, is an important biomaterial responsible for many of the vibrant structural colors observed in nature and for UV protection. Even though the RI plays an important role in the function of melanin, there is an ambiguity in its reported complex RI and a lack of understanding of whether and how the UV radiation, these materials are likely to experience under normal use, will affect the complex RI. Here, we measured the wavelength-dependent (360-1700 nm) complex RI of synthetic melanin films before and after in situ UV treatment using ellipsometry. We modeled the ellipsometric data using a modified Tauc-Lorentz dispersion model and measured the thickness independently using atomic force microscopy. The UV radiation reduces the film thickness. Interestingly, we find that both the real and imaginary terms of the RI increase upon UV radiation. These experiments provide accurate measurements of the optical properties of melanin and a surprising result that synthetic melanin absorbs more light (∼25% increase in extinction coefficient) below 600 nm after UV exposure.