Modification of Block Copolymer Photonic Gels for Colorimetric Biosensors

摘要

Photonic band gap (PBG) materials with tunability in the visible or near infrared region have been increasingly investigated not only because of their unique capability of controlling and processing light but also because of their potential applications as active components of displays, sensors or telecomniunication devices. Collective Bragg refraction in a periodic dielectric structure delivers a certain range of frequencies called a photonic band gap where photon propagation is prohibited. The band structure can be modulated when the refractive index and the periodicity of the dielectric layers are carefully scaled to the wavelength of incident light. Many different tunable PBG materials have been demonstrated, and most of them are based on the colloidal crystal arrays (CCAs) functionalized with various molecules where either the refractive index or the periodicity is changed in response to the various stimuli.