Self-assembly of submicron particles between electrodes

A method for the fabrication of opal films between parallel transparent ele ctrodes is described. Monodispersed particles are assembled by taking advan tage of the rheological force induced by the evaporation of a solvent in a thin capillary cell. Three-dimensional opal films with controllable thickne ss could be fabricated, in which a regular hexagonal arrangement of particl es parallel to the substrates over a large area was observed. Such a sandwi ch-like photonic device may find applications in fabricating electrically t unable photonic crystals. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.