A comparative study of inverted-opal titania photonic crystals made from polymer and silica colloidal crystal templates

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 2004 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1806551· OSTI ID:20658073

Kuai, S -L; Truong, V -V; Hache, Alain; Hu, X -F ^[1]

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1. Departement de physique et d'astronomie, Universite de Moncton, Moncton E1A 3E9 (Canada)

Photonic crystals with an inverted-opal structure using polymer and silica colloidal crystal templates were prepared and compared. We show that the behaviors of the template during the removal process and heat treatment are determinant factors on the crystal formation. While both templates result in ordered macroporous structures, the optical quality in each case is quite different. The removal of the polymer template by sintering causes a large shrinkage of the inverted framework and produces a high density of cracks in the sample. With a silica template, sintering actually improves the quality of the inverted structure by enhancing the template's mechanical stability, helping increase the filling fraction, and consolidating the titania framework. The role of the other important factors such as preheating and multiple infiltrations is also investigated.

• OSTI ID: 20658073
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 96; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRACKS
CRYSTALS
HEAT TREATMENTS
OPALS
POLYMERS
POROUS MATERIALS
SHRINKAGE
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SINTERING
TITANIUM OXIDES