COLLOIDAL PHOTONIC CRYSTALS

摘要

A method of growing robust large area colloidal photonic crystals and device s produced thereby. A suspension of monosized colloidal spheres (1) is subject ed to a composite shear (6) by applying a sequential set of shearing forces. Th e crystalline layers within the colloid experience shearing forces with components in both x and y directions, forcing the colloid into a single fac e- centred-cubic structure in preference to a twinned face-centred-cubic structure. The method may also comprise the use of a dispersion medium which is capable of undergoing a controllable phase change from a liquid phase to a solid phase. The crystal may be fixed into a single face-centred cubic structure.