Self-assembly of Coated Colloidal Particles for Optical Applications

28 LLE Review, Volume 97 Introduction Nearly two decades ago, theoretical predictions indicated the possibility of creating omnidirectional photonic-band-gap materials that would prevent the propagation of certain wavelengths of light in all directions, while allowing transmission of other light wavelengths.1,2 Since that time, there has been a growing interest in creating these materials experimentally due to the wide variety of potential applications afforded by the control of light propagation, including use in optical computing and telecommunications.3 Researchers have taken two approaches to construction of photonic-band-gap materials: (1) lithographic technologies similar to that used in microelectronics manufacture and (2) colloidal self-assembly of spherical particles. The self-assembly approach is promising due to its simplicity and low cost.