Opals with a thin-film metallic defect-hybrid colloidal plasmonic photonic crystals

Hybrid photonic crystals consisting of a thin-film opal and a thin profiled gold film situated on the surface or inside the opal have been prepared. The optical transmittance spectra of hybrid crystals have been studied. It has been found that the spectra exhibit minima due to diffraction resonances in the photonic crystal and bands of enhanced transmission due to transfer of radiation through the metal film surface by plasmon polaritons. It has been shown that the transmittance spectra of hybrid crystals with a metal film on the surface are subjected to a stronger modification than the hybrids having a metal film inside the crystal.     

Reflection,Transmission, and Scattering of Light by Photonic Crystals Based on Opal Films

The spectroscopic methods with angular resolution are used to perform an integrated experimental study of optical phenomena (Bragg's reflection, transmission, and scattering of light) in photonic crystals based on opal films. The anisotropy of optical properties and the influence of the photonic band structure on optical spectra of specimens are detected in all examined cases.     

Raman Scattering in Three-Dimensional Photonic Crystals

The optical properties of three-dimensional photonic crystals associated with the form of reflection spectra from their surface (appearance of a forbidden gap in the energy spectrum) and with the specific features of Raman scattering are analyzed. Idealized models of the energy band structure of photonic crystals are studied. Expressions for the group velocity of photons with energy close to the forbidden gap are derived. Experimental results on the Raman scattering in photonic crystals based on artificial opal as well as in fused silica are discussed. Bands due to quantum-size effects (presence of nanoclusters in fused silica and nanoglobules forming the lattice of globular photonic crystals) were manifested in the spectra of inelastic light scattering. It is proposed to use photonic crystals for the creation of sensitive sensors of organic and inorganic substances using modern Raman techniques.     

Structural characterization of opal-based photonic crystals in the visible range

For structural characterization of periodic three-dimensional systems with submicron-scale lattice parameters (optical photonic crystals), is analogous to the use of visible light of x-rays. It is shown that specular reflectance and transmittance spectra of opal do indeed yield information on the lattice period and structural perfection of photonic crystals. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 648–650 (April 1998)     

Photoluminescence in Gd2O3: Er3+, Yb3+ upconversion inverse opal

Photoluminescence properties of Gd₂O₃: Er³⁺, Yb³⁺ upconversion inverse opal photonic crystals were investigated. The photoluminescence spectra of the inverse opal show strong dependence on upconversion emission intensity and the corresponding photonic band-gaps of the inverse opal. Significant suppression of the green or red upconversion emission was observed if the photonic band-gap overlaps with the Er³⁺ ions emission band. The color purity of the red or green emission was improved in the inverse opal by the suppression of green or red UC emission. We believe that the present work will be valuable for not only the foundational study of upconversion emission modification but also new optical devices in upconversion lighting and display.     

Nanostructural effects on optical properties of tungsten inverse opal

Tungsten (W) photonic crystals are very attractive because of their potential applications in the conventional lighting field. In this work we show that W nanostructures have dominative effects on optical properties of W inverse opal. The nanoparticle structure of W phase can cause intensive optical absorption and breakdown of the photonic band gap; on the contrary, W inverse opal made from bulk and compact W phase would have weak absorption and possess a good photonic band gap. The results will throw a new light on the study and application of W photonic crystals and development of other photonic crystal and black-body materials. Electronic Supplementary Material  The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

二氧化硅蛋白石光子晶体中粒子重构对光学性质的影响

使用自组装法制备了蛋白石结构二氧化硅纳米球三维光子晶体,并对样品在150,300,450℃温度下进行了热处理.随热处理温度的升高,光子晶体禁带中心波长出现22.5 nm的蓝移,且禁带宽度变窄.对于在450℃热处理的样品,其测量的禁带中心波长为572.5 nm,与理论计算结果有较大差异.引起样品光学特性变化的原因是热处理...     

Anisotropy of light propagation in thin opal films

Thin opal films are prepared by crystallization in a moving meniscus, and their optical transmission spectra are recorded in polarized light and studied. It is shown that the anisotropy of light propagation in the films is unambiguously related to the photonic band structure of opal and depends on the angle of incidence, the orientation of the incidence plane with respect to the opal lattice, and the wavelength and polarization of the incident light. Azimuthal diagrams of transmitted polarized light are constructed in the range of photonic band gaps of three orders for oblique incidence of a light beam. The anisotropy is found to vary with the light wave-length independently in perpendicular polarizations. A model of the band structure of opal wherein opal is represented as an fcc lattice of close-packed spheres adequately describes the optical transmission of opal films only in the range of the first-order photonic band gap.     

Spectra of secondary emission during generation of optical harmonics in globular photonic crystals

Secondary emission spectra of globular silica photonic crystals when their surfaces were exposed to laser pulses 250 fs long at a power density to 1 TW/cm² have been studied. Optical harmonics and plasma emission were detected in this case. For the opal matrix containing pores filled with air, in the reflection mode, the third optical harmonic with a conversion efficiency of ～10% arises. The highest conversion efficiency for exciting radiation with wavelengths of 1026 or 513 nm is implemented when the frequencies of the exciting radiation or the second harmonic are near the stop band edge. In globular photonic crystals filled with sodium nitrite or barium titanate ferroelectrics, the second optical harmonic is observed. The exciting radiation conversion efficiency to the second optical harmonic was a few percent and depended on the frequency of exciting radiation and photonic crystal globule diameters. It is found that the plasma emission intensity increases with the exciting radiation power density. The dependences of the intensity of the second and third optical harmonics on the pump intensity are constructed for various photonic crystal globule diameters.     

金属有机化学气相沉积法在欧泊空隙中生长磷化铟的影响因素

制备磷化铟(InP)反欧泊三维光子晶体的关键是提高InP在欧泊空隙中的填充率。使用低压金属有机化学气相沉积(MOCVD)系统在人工欧泊空隙中生长了InP晶体,分析了影响InP在欧泊空隙中填充的因素及确定了InP的最佳生长条件。实验和理论分析的结果较为符合。磷化铟在人工欧泊空隙中的填充率越高,二氧化硅球和空隙间的折射率差越大,人工欧泊光子晶体光学性能的变化就越显著;周期生长、低压、使用和InP失配小的衬底以及异质同构现象有助于InP在欧泊空隙中的填充。在优化的生长条件下制备了填充率较高的SiO₂-InP光子晶体。研究结果为制备InP反欧泊结构积累了有益的经验。     

Photonic crystals for applications in photoelectrochemical processes: Photoelectrochemical solar cells with inverse opal topology

Photonic crystal structures, that present strong light localization effects near photonic band gap frequency regions, can be very useful to maximize chemical processes of phototoactive materials. One example is the use of photonic crystals to improve solar energy harvesting in photoelectrochemical solar cells. Here, we describe the optical monitoring synthesis of macroporous materials, with inverse opal topology, made of transition metal and rare-earth oxide nanoparticles. Through the optical properties we can obtain information concerning both infiltration and over layer growth. Finally, we report on the efficiency improvement of photoelectrochemical cells when titania inverse opal topology is used.     

Controlling the photoluminescence spectroscopy of quinacrine dihydrochloride by SiO_2 inverse opal photonic crystal

Manipulation of the photoluminescence spectra of light-emitting materials doped in three-dimensional （3D） inverse opal photonic crystals is investigated. Quinacrine dihydrochloride molecules doped highly ordered SiO2 inverse opal is successfully synthesized by co-assembly combined with double-substrate vertical infiltrate method. The quinacrine dihydrochloride-doped and-undoped SiO2 inverse opals each exhibit an apparent photonic band gap （PBG） in the visible light region. Significant suppression of the emission is observed when the PBG is overlapped with the quinacrine dihydrochloride emission bands. The mechanism of suppression effect of PBG in inverse opal on the fluorescence intensity of quinacrine dihydrochloride molecules is studied.     

Propagation of polarized light in opals: Amplitude and phase anisotropy

The interaction of linearly polarized light with photonic crystals based on bulk and thin-film synthetic opals is studied. Experimental transmission spectra and spectra showing the polarization state of light transmitted through opals are discussed. A change in polarization is found for waves experiencing Bragg diffraction from systems of crystallographic planes of the opal lattice. It is shown that the polarization plane of the incident linearly polarized wave at the exit from photonic crystals can be considerably rotated. In addition, incident linearly polarized light can be transformed to elliptically polarized light with the turned major axis of the polarization ellipse. Analysis of polarization states of transmitted light by using the transfer-matrix theory and homogenization theory revealed good agreement between calculated and experimental spectra.     

Laser implantation of sodium nitrite ferroelectric into pores of synthetic opal

We present the experimental results on implantation of NaNO₂ ferroelectric into pores of synthetic opal by illuminating with focused ultraviolet excimer-laser radiation of a sodium nitrite film located on the synthetic-opal surface. The reflection spectra of broadband radiation from the surface of implanted specimens are compared with the reflection spectra of initial (without any treatment) opals, synthetic opals filled with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium nitrite with subsequently evaporated solvent, and specimens with NaNO₂ embedded as a melt. The possible mechanisms of shifts of reflected- and transmitted-radiation peaks are analyzed. Methods of implanting materials with high melting points into pores of 3D photonic crystals are proposed.     

Anomalous coherent backscattering of light from opal photonic crystals

We studied coherent backscattering (CBS) of light from opal photonic crystals with incomplete band gaps. We observed a dramatic broadening of the CBS cone for incident angles close to the Bragg condition in the crystals. We modify the conventional CBS theory to incorporate Bragg attenuation resulting from the photonic band structure. By fitting the CBS data with the modified theory, we extract both the disorder-induced light mean-free path and the Bragg attenuation length of the inherent opal photonic crystal.     

Optical properties of 3D photonic crystals filled with CdSe/CdS quantum dots

We study 3D globular photonic crystals based on synthetic opals filled with semiconductor core/shell quantum dots CdSe/CdS by measuring the photoluminescence spectra. The spectra were obtained using 369, 384, and 408 nm LED light excitation and involving a pulse YAG laser operating at 365 and 266 nm. The study shows that the photoluminescence spectra of opal filled with CdSe/CdS changes sufficiently in comparison with spectra taken for pure opal and a reference colloidal solution of CdSe/Cds quantum dots in toluene. Such opals may be used to fabricate a narrow-band light sources.     

Modification of photonic properties in porphyrin-infiltrated opal crystals

Structural, optical and magnetic properties of porphyrin-infiltrated opal hybrid structures were investigated. Bulk samples of synthetic opal were grown by sedimentation technique from colloidal solution of SiO₂ spheres of diameter 250 nm. The structure of the samples was examined by atomic force microscopy. The photonic properties of crystals were investigated by optical measurements in transmission and reflection modes. The stop band was observed in the region 510–550 nm. The photonic properties of synthetic opal crystals were modified by infiltration with aqueous basic solution of iron–porphyrin (FeTPPS) of concentration 1.0 mM. In hybrid samples the absorption bands typical of FeTPPS were observed in the vicinity of the opal stop band. Magnetic properties of FeTPPS-infiltrated opal samples have been studied at 5–300 K in magnetic fields up to 5 T. The FeTPPS-infiltrated opal crystals can be considered as the structures perspective for magnetophotonic devices.     

Optical and dielectric properties of nanostructured photonic crystals loaded by ferroelectrics and metals

The properties of new materials produced by loading artificial opals with different ferroelectrics (sodium nitrite, barium titanate, lithium niobate. etc.) are analyzed. The possibility of modifying the ferroelectric properties of materials by introducing them into pores of artificial opals is reported. The physical properties of artificial opals with pores loaded by conducting media (mercury, amorphous carbon, silver, gold, etc.) are studied. An analysis is made of the transmission and reflection spectra of broad-band radiation, which permit one to establish the characteristics of the stop bands as a function of the globule diameter, the type of ferroelectric or metal inserted into the opal pores, thermal annealing conditions, etc. The conditions favoring emission of slow electromagnetic waves in artificial opals are specified, and their characteristic properties are reported. The possibilities for increasing the efficiency of Raman and nonlinear optical processes in photonic crystals loaded by ferroelectrics and metals are analyzed.     

Variation of spontaneous emission in the opal stop-band with an enhanced refractive-index contrast

Photoluminescence spectra of an opal with an anatase layer grown on its inner surface were studied. Measurements were carried out with a high angular resolution at various pump power levels and detection angles. The intensity and probability of emission were found to acquire an anisotropy corresponding to the frequency and angular dispersion of the first opal photonic band gap. As the pump power increases, the suppression of spontaneous emission in the photonic band gap is shown to be replaced by its amplification. The amplification of spontaneous emission is tentatively assigned to the existence of localized defect optical modes in the photonic band gap.     

Spectroscopy of stop bands of globular photonic crystals filled with water

Reflectance spectra from the surface of artificial opals are measured at various globule diameters. A method for calculating the spectra of globular photonic crystals taking into account the globule size dispersion is proposed. The effect of the filling of opal with water on the spectral position of stop bands is revealed. Satisfactory agreement of theoretical results with experimental data was found.