Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a composition comprising a structural colorant comprising photonic particles comprising a metal oxide and from about 0.1% to about 50% w/w of an organic material.

Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a composition comprising a structural colorant comprising photonic particles comprising a metal oxide and a transition metal, the molar ratio of transition metal to metal oxide being less than about 2:1.

Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a method of preparing structural colorants comprising photonic particles, the method comprising varying the calcination temperature in the process to enable the tuning of pore size to obtain a wide variety of possible colors.

Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a liquid coating composition comprising a liquid medium and a structural colorant comprising photonic particles comprising a metal oxide, the photonic particles having silane functional groups on at least a portion of the external surface of the photonic particles.

Abstract: A co-assembly method for synthesizing inverse photonic structures is described. The method includes combining an onium compound with a sol-gel precursor to form metal oxide (MO) nanocrystals, where each MO nanocrystal has crystalline and amorphous content. The MO nanocrystals are combined with templating particles to form a suspension. A solvent is evaporated from the suspension to form an intermediate or compound product, which then undergoes calcination to produce an inverse structure.

Abstract: A co-assembly method for synthesizing inverse photonic structures is described. The method includes combining an onium compound with a sol-gel precursor to form metal oxide (MO) nanocrystals, where each MO nanocrystal has crystalline and amorphous content. The MO nanocrystals are combined with templating particles to form a suspension. A solvent is evaporated from the suspension to form an intermediate or compound product, which then undergoes calcination to produce an inverse structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photonic structures and methods of controlling the optical properties and structural stability of photonic structures by using ionic species. The photonic structure is less crystalline when increasing concentrations of the ionic species are used. In certain embodiments, the ionic species is a transition metal salt. The method allows for production of single crystalline, polycrystalline, or glass-like photonic structures. The method allows for control of the optical properties and structural stability of photonic structures. The resulting photonic structures are useful in a wide range of applications, including sensors, photoactive catalysts, light emitters, and random lasing.