Abstract
We report an improved convective self-assembly method for the fabrication of highly ordered, crack-free binary colloidal crystals (BCCs) and the associated inverse structures in large domains at length scales of several centimeters. With this method, BCCs can be fabricated in a non-close packed pattern and binary inverse opal films can be obtained over a centimeter scale. The presence of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) sol in the self-assembly system was found to play a significant role in the resultant structures. The pseudostop band positions are adjustable via varying the number ratio of small to large polystyrene (PS) spheres. At a given TEOS-to-PS ratio, the binary inverse opal film thickness was controllable by varying the colloidal volume fraction with an upper thickness threshold (>16 layers).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 42-50 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Colloid and Interface Science |
| Volume | 380 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 15 Aug 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Binary colloidal crystals
- Binary inverse opals
- Convective self-assembly
- Crack-free
- Macroporous
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'An improved convective self-assembly method for the fabrication of binary colloidal crystals and inverse structures'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Cite this
- APA
- Author
- BIBTEX
- Harvard
- Standard
- RIS
- Vancouver