Fabrication Technique of Micropatterned Inverse Photonic Crystal Films

Abstract A simple and frugal method for fabricating inverse micropatterned photonic crystal (PhC) films aimed at miniaturization and multiplexing of opaline PhCs is described. First, highly uniform micropatterned synthetic opal structures in the form of periodic stripes are formed via stick‐slip motion of the meniscus during SiO 2 colloid solution evaporation. The prepared opal structures are then used as templates to produce inverse stripe patterned films with highly uniform colors via photopolymerization of ethoxylate trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) photocurable resin. Local reflectance spectra are recorded to prove the PhC properties of the inverse stripes, and peaks over 40% associated with the first photonic stop band are observed. The readily fabrication process suggested here is an important step toward the development of many applications that can pave the technical road map for the next wave of innovations and breakthrough in PhCs for sensing. In particular, the resulting structures can be used as PhC arrays containing a line of periodically repeating sensor strips capable to detect the content of alcohols in water.