Three-dimensional photonic crystal structures achieved with self-organization of colloidal particles

Three-dimensional polystyrene/air photonic crystal structure with different particle diameters: 200, 270 and 340 nm was achieved. Strong photonic band gap effect reflected with transmission minimum down to -16 dB was observed . The central wavelengths of the valleys of spectra were well fitted with t heoretical calculation. The augmentation of band gap effect versus particle diameter was attributed to an improved self-assembling of particles. An an alysis of transmission spectra is also presented. The agreement between the results of experiment and numerical analysis is good.