Process for fabricating article exhibiting substantial three-dimensional order and resultant article

摘要

A structure exhibiting substantial periodicity on a micron scale, e.g., a photonic band gap material, is provided. The structure is fabricated by a process involving the steps of providing a template comprising a colloidal crystal, and introducing into the colloidal crystal a liquid dispersion of nanoparticles. The resulting composite is treated, e.g., dried, to form a cohesive structure from the nanoparticles, and the colloidal crystal particles are removed to form the ordered structure.