Patent · US Active

Synthetic opal and photonic crystal

US8936683B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
12References
15Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 2, 2005
Grant dateJan 20, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 3, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T117/10
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A colloidal suspension of particles is rapidly self-assembled with a minimum number of defects into a densely packed array of particles on a substrate under simultaneous sedimentation and annealing forces. The particles may be ordered as an opal structure. Optionally, the synthesized structure may incorporate an electrolyte and be used as a sacrificial form for micromolding an inverse structure. The inverse structure may exhibit a photonic band gap. Optionally, necking between particles may be adjusted after micromolding. Furthermore, a shell may alter physical properties, such as protecting a thermally stimulated photonic band gap device. These low cost methods allow more applications to become commercially viable.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.