Block copolymers have proven to be a unique materials platform for easily fabricated large-area photonic crystals. While the basic concept of block copolymer based photonic band gap materials has been well demonstrated, little work has been achieved yet in terms of realizing optically active devices using these materials. [n this thesis, the utilization of block copolymer photonic crystals for creating self-assembled active optical elements has been experimentally explored with a special emphasis on optically driven lasing and stimulus responsive tunable reflectors. In pursuing these primary objectives, control of thin film microdomain orientation and novel three-dimensional (3D) optical characterization of block copolymer photonic crystals have been also achieved, both of which can greatly help optimize the properties of block copolymer photonic crystals. First, a laser cavity using block copolymer based one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystals has been demonstrated. Optically pumped surface-emitting lasing has been obtained using a dye-doped polymers as the organic gain medium and the self-assembled block copolymer as the spectral-band selective distributed Bragg reflector feedback element.
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