Fabricating Photonic Devices through Colloidal Self-Assembly

1. Fabricating Photonic Devices through Colloidal Self-Assembly Stephen H. Foulger, Clemson University, DMR-0236692 Colloidal assemblies that exhibit long-range order have become a focus point for materials scientists as (1) a model system for the study of colloidal interparticle forces & self-assembly and (2) a template structure for the development of the next-generation materials. In this research effort, electrostatically stabilized colloidal particles with long-range order have been exploited in the development of photonic devices that exhibit tunable properties. Specific interest has been focused on exploiting the mechanochromic or solvatochromic response of photonic bandgap composite to build tunable thin film lasers, emissive systems, notch filters, and photonic “papers.” • J. Lawrence, Y. Ying, P. Jiang, and S. H. Foulger, Adv. Mater., 18, 300(2006). • J. Xia, Y. Ying, and S. H. Foulger, Adv. Mater., 17,2463 (2005). • J. Lawrence, G. Shim, P. Jiang, M. Han, Y. Ying, and S. H. Foulger, Adv. Mater., 17,2344 (2005). • P. Jiang, J. Ballato, D. W. Smith, and S. H. Foulger, Adv. Mater., 17, 179 (2005). • S. H. Foulger, P. Jiang, A. Lattam, J. Ballato, D. W. Smith, Jr. D. Dausch, S. Grego, and B. Stoner, Adv. Mater.,15, 685(2003). Various applications of elastomeric photonic bandgap (PBG) composites: (top image) mechanochromic response of a PBG composite is utilized to alter the resonant frequency in a thin film laser cavity; (bottom image; left) the color variation of a mechanochromic PBG composite under various strain states is demonstrated; (bottom image; right) the solvatochromic response of a PBG composite is exploited to template a tiger paw insignia into a thin film.