Abstract: The present invention features a solar-to-electric energy conversion device based on a light absorbing electrode coupled to a one-dimensional nanoparticle based photonic crystal. The function of the latter is to localize the incident light within the electrode thus enhancing the optical absorption and the power conversion efficiency of the so called dye-sensitized and organic (polymer based or hybrids) cell. The photonic crystal comprises alternating layers possessing different index of refraction and can be easily integrated into the cell.

Abstract: The present invention features a solar-to-electric energy conversion device based on a light absorbing electrode coupled to a one-dimensional nanoparticle based photonic crystal. The function of the latter is to localize the incident light within the electrode thus enhancing the optical absorption and the power conversion efficiency of the so called dye-sensitized and organic (polymer based or hybrids) cell. The photonic crystal comprises alternating layers possessing different index of refraction and can be easily integrated into the cell.

Abstract: The present invention features a solar-to-electric energy conversion device based on a light absorbing electrode coupled to a one-dimensional nanoparticle based photonic crystal. The function of the latter is to localize the incident light within the electrode thus enhancing the optical absorption and the power conversion efficiency of the so called dye-sensitized and organic (polymer based or hybrids) cell. The photonic crystal comprises alternating layers possessing different index of refraction and can be easily integrated into the cell.

Abstract: This invention describes methods of synthesis and applications of a composite material of a colloidal crystal and a substrate. The method includes steps of (a) providing a substrate having a surface with a surface relief pattern; and (b) applying a liquid dispersion containing colloidal particles onto the surface and spinning the substrate whereby colloidal particles are swept across the surface and self-assemble in void spaces on the surface defined by the relief pattern. The resulting composite material (substrate with colloidal crystal) may be used in various applications such as chromatography, for use in lab-on-chip based devices, micro-reactors and the like. The material may be infiltrated by a material and the composite inverted to remove the colloidal particles to produce an inverted colloidal crystal pattern on the substrate. The material may be selected such that the inverted colloidal crystal pattern is a photonic crystal.

Abstract: A method of wavelength tuning a composite material. The method includes the steps of: producing an ordered array of first constituents having a first refractive index embedded within a cross-linked metallopolymer network having a second refractive index different than the first refractive index, the ordered array of first constituents having a lattice spacing giving rise to Bragg diffraction when the composite material is illuminated; and switching the electronic configuration of the cross-linked metallopolymer network so that the cross-linked polymer network changes dimensions and modulates the lattice spacing of the ordered array of first constituents, which shifts the Bragg diffraction wavelength to a pre-selected wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a widely wavelength tunable polychrome colloidal photonic crystal device whose optical Bragg diffraction stop bands and higher energy bands wavelength, width and intensity can be tuned in a continuous and fine, rapid and reversible, reproducible and predictable fashion and over a broad spectral range by a controlled expansion or contraction of the colloidal photonic lattice dimension, effected by a predetermined change in the electronic configuration of the composite material. In its preferred embodiment, the material is a composite in the form of a film or a patterned film or shape of any dimension or array of shapes of any dimension comprised of an organized array of microspheres in a matrix of a cross-linked metallopolymer network with a continuously variable redox state of charge and fluid content.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a widely wavelength tunable polychrome colloidal photonic crystal device whose optical Bragg diffraction stop bands and higher energy bands wavelength, width and intensity can be tuned in a continuous and fine, rapid and reversible, reproducible and predictable fashion and over a broad spectral range by a controlled expansion or contraction of the colloidal photonic lattice dimension, effected by a predetermined change in the electronic configuration of the composite material. In its preferred embodiment, the material is a composite in the form of a film or a patterned film or shape of any dimension or array of shapes of any dimension comprised of an organized array of microspheres in a matrix of a cross-linked metallopolymer network with a continuously variable redox state of charge and fluid content.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to control the degree of connectivity of the colloidal particles making up a colloidal crystal and, consequently, the pore size, filling fraction, mechanical stability and optical properties of the colloidal lattice, without disrupting its long range order and without the deleterious effects of lattice contraction induced cracking observed in conventional necking methods based on thermal sintering. The colloidal particles are connected to adjacent colloidal particles in the lattice by a homogeneous layer of uniform and controllable thickness of a metal oxide. This metal oxide layer is grown in a layer-by-layer process and is chemically bonded to the colloidal particle surface and serves to enhance the mechanical stability of the colloidal crystal in addition to acting to control the pore size or void volume between the colloidal particles in the lattice.

Abstract: This invention describes methods of synthesis and applications of planarized photonic crystals. Provided are simple, quick, reproducible and inexpensive methods that combine self-assembly and lithography to achieve the first examples of vectorial control of thickness, structure, area, topology, orientation and registry of colloidal crystals that have been patterned in substrates for use in lab-on-chip and photonic chip technologies. 1-, 2 and 3-D colloidal crystals patterned either on or within substrates can be used for templating inverted colloidal crystal replica patterns made of materials like silicon as well as building micron scale structural defects in such colloidal crystals.

Abstract: This invention describes methods of synthesis and applications of planarized photonic crystals. Provided are simple, quick, reproducible and inexpensive methods that combine self-assembly and lithography to achieve the first examples of vectorial control of thickness, structure, area, topology, orientation and registry of colloidal crystals that have been patterned in substrates for use in lab-on-chip and photonic chip technologies. 1-, 2 and 3-D colloidal crystals patterned either on or within substrates can be used for templating inverted colloidal crystal replica patterns made of materials like silicon as well as building micron scale structural defects in such colloidal crystals.

Abstract: The invention described herein is broadly directed to 3D photonic crystal fibers exemplified but not limited to novel 3D inverse colloidal crystal fibers made of silicon. In particular the invention relates to the general utilization of controlled size and controlled shape and controlled length microchannel surface relief patterns that have been lithographically defined in silicon substrates for the geometrically confined crystallization of silica microspheres to form highly ordered and oriented colloidal photonic crystal microchannel templates and the utilization of such templates for creating, through silicon infiltration synthetic strategies, colloidal silicon-silica photonic crystal composite materials thereof and the subsequent removal of the silica template and detachment of these colloidal silicon-silica photonic crystal composite materials from the silicon substrate by etching in a fluoride-based medium to create oriented free standing 3D inverse colloidal photonic crystal fibers.

Abstract: A new type of synthetic silicon colloidal photonic colloidal crystal is described presenting a different topology than previously synthesised high refractive index contrast colloidal photonic crystals. It has been built using a new synthesis process based upon micromolding in inverse silica opals (MISO), where the micromold has a structure of interconnected air cavities in a silica matrix. By chemical vapour deposition of disilane within this micromold, a continuous and uniform silicon layer of controlled thickness is formed, which coats the walls of the silica matrix. Later, by dissolution of the starting silica micromold it is possible to obtain a face centered cubic silicon colloidal photonic crystal with a topology never observed before and which presents a full photonic band gap, as indicated by theoretical photonic band structure calculations making them useful as optical components of envisioned all-optical microphotonic crystal devices, circuits, chips and computers.

Abstract: Composite materials having colloidal photonic crystals patterned in substrates for use in different technologies including lab-on-chip and photonic chip technologies. The colloidal crystals are patterned either on or within surface relief patterns in the substrates of the composite materials and each colloidal crystal exhibits Bragg diffraction.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a widely wavelength tunable polychrome colloidal photonic crystal device whose optical Bragg diffraction stop bands and higher energy bands wavelength, width and intensity can be tuned in a continuous and fine, rapid and reversible, reproducible and predictable fashion and over a broad spectral range by a controlled expansion or contraction of the colloidal photonic lattice dimension, effected by a predetermined change in the electronic configuration of the composite material. In its preferred embodiment, the material is a composite in the form of a film or a patterned film or shape of any dimension or array of shapes of any dimension comprised of an organized array of microspheres in a matrix of a cross-linked metallopolymer network with a continuously variable redox state of charge and fluid content.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to control the degree of connectivity of the colloidal particles making up a colloidal crystal and, consequently, the pore size, filling fraction, mechanical stability and optical properties of the colloidal lattice, without disrupting its long range order and without the deleterious effects of lattice contraction induced cracking observed in conventional necking methods based on thermal sintering. The colloidal particles are connected to adjacent colloidal particles in the lattice by a homogeneous layer of uniform and controllable thickness of a metal oxide. This metal oxide layer is grown in a layer-by-layer process and is chemically bonded to the colloidal particle surface and serves to enhance the mechanical stability of the colloidal crystal in addition to acting to control the pore size or void volume between the colloidal particles in the lattice.

Abstract: This invention describes methods of synthesis and applications of planarized photonic crystals. Provided are simple, quick, reproducible and inexpensive methods that combine self-assembly and lithography to achieve the first examples of vectorial control of thickness, structure, area, topology, orientation and registry of colloidal crystals that have been patterned in substrates for use in lab-on-chip and photonic chip technologies. 1-, 2 and 3-D colloidal crystals patterned either on or within substrates can be used for templating inverted colloidal crystal replica patterns made of materials like silicon as well as building micron scale structural defects in such colloidal crystals.

Abstract: This invention describes methods of synthesis and applications of planarized photonic crystals. Provided are simple, quick, reproducible and inexpensive methods that combine self-assembly and lithography to achieve the first examples of vectorial control of thickness, structure, area, topology, orientation and registry of colloidal crystals that have been patterned in substrates for use in lab-on-chip and photonic chip technologies. 1-, 2 and 3-D colloidal crystals patterned either on or within substrates can be used for templating inverted colloidal crystal replica patterns made of materials like silicon as well as building micron scale structural defects in such colloidal crystals.