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Monodispersed Colloidal Spheres: Old Materials with New Applications
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2000
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Colloidal MaterialOptical MaterialsOrdered LatticesEngineeringNanoporous MaterialColloidal NanocrystalsChemistrySoft MatterPhotonic CrystalsColloidal SpheresNanophotonicsMaterials ScienceNanomanufacturingPhotonic MaterialsColloidal PropertyColloidal SystemColloid ChemistryNanomaterialsSelf-assemblyApplied PhysicsPhotonic StructuresMonodispersed Colloidal SpheresNanofabricationColloidal Systems
The article reviews research on monodispersed colloidal spheres (10 nm–1 µm) and outlines future research directions. It is organized into three parts: methods for producing size‑controlled spheres, techniques for arranging them into ordered lattices, and applications of the resulting crystalline assemblies. The review highlights applications of crystalline assemblies as photonic bandgap crystals, removable templates for macroporous materials, lithographic masks, and diffractive optical sensors.
This article presents an overview of current research activities that center on monodispersed colloidal spheres whose diameter falls anywhere in the range of 10 nm to 1 μm. It is organized into three parts: The first part briefly discusses several useful methods that have been developed for producing monodispersed colloidal spheres with tightly controlled sizes and well-defined properties (both surface and bulk). The second part surveys some techniques that have been demonstrated for organizing these colloidal spheres into two- and three-dimensionally ordered lattices. The third part highlights a number of unique applications of these crystalline assemblies, such as their uses as photonic bandgap (PBG) crystals; as removable templates to fabricate macroporous materials with highly ordered and three-dimensionally interconnected porous structures; as physical masks in lithographic patterning; and as diffractive elements to fabricate new types of optical sensors. Finally, we conclude with some personal perspectives on the directions towards which future research in this area might be directed.