Preparation of 3D photonic crystals from opals

Exploring integration prospects of opal-based photonic crystals

Different methods of functionalisation of thin opal films are discussed, including synthesis of opals on pre-patterned substrates, post-synthesis electron beam lithography, preparation of opals with heterogeneous photonic band gap structure and integrating opals with light sources. These approaches have been tested experimentally and key technological problems have been identified.

Micromoulding of three-dimensional photonic crystals on silicon substrates

International audience; The growth of three-dimensional photonic crystals (PhCs) on patterned silicon substrates is reported. It is shown that deep trenches can be uniformly filled by a self-assembly of polymer microspheres, in a close-packed face-centred cubic lattice. The crystalline quality is compared for different channel widths. These observations are confirmed by optical reflectance measurements in the visible range, showing a bandwidth of enhanced reflection. The possibility to detach the PhC, i.e. to use the substrate as a mould, is also demonstrated. The potential of this approach for building PhC-based complex architectures is discussed.

Photonic crystals based on two-layer opaline heterostructures

AbstractOptical properties of several heterostructures representing two-layer opaline photonic crystals have been examined. Two separate stop-bands have been observed both in transmission and emission spectra. The effect of the interface disorder on the optical spectra was not observed, probably, due to the insufficient degree of order of the opaline layers.