Photonic Crystal Films with High Refractive Index Contrast

Abstract

Large-area inverted photonic crystals of SnS2 are prepared here by infilling poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) opaline thin films with SnS2 by chemical vapor deposition. Dissolution of the polymer beads leaves a large inverted replica with good optical properties (see Figure), owing to the high bulk refractive index and wide electronic gap of the material.