Preparation of Multilayered Trimodal Colloid Crystals and Binary Inverse Opals

摘要

The quest for photonic materials has reanimated colloidal crystal research with an emergence of innovative preparation methods,new ordered structures,and applications.Colloidal crystal self-assembly has attracted particular attention due to its potential as an efficient,inexpensive mass production method.In addition,it provides the possibility to prepare ordered states of matter that are not accessible by other existing nanofabrication methods.The self-assembly process involving multiple colloidal components of different materials and dimensions offers additional potential.For example,multi-component colloidal crystals can provide intricate structures as the basis for photonic and phononic band gap materials and multiscale porous materials with very large surface area for applications in ion exchange,molecular separation,catalysis,chromatography,biomaterials engineering,and membrane reactors.