Direct laser writing of three-dimensional photonic crystal lattices within a PbS quantum-dot-doped polymer material

We report on the synthesis of an optically homogenous PbS quantum-dot-doped polymer material of thickness up to 100 micrometers. It is shown that high quality micro-void channels of submicrometer diameters can be directly fabricated into this nanocomposite by using an ultrafast femtosecond laser beam. Periodically stacked channels in the form of a three-dimensional photonic crystal woodpile lattices reveals a main stop gaps as well as higher-order gaps that overlaps the near-infrared emission wavelength range of PbS quantum dots. These partial stop gaps are well defined in an angular range from zero to 15 degrees in the stacking direction.