Optical properties of self-assembled TiO2-SiO2 double-layered photonic crystals

The optical properties of self-assembled TiO2/SiO2 double-layered photonic crystals were examined using SiO2 and TiO2 nanopowders. The SiO2 and TiO2 nanopowders were fabricated using the well-known Stöber process, and the double-layered structure was self-assembled by an evaporation method. Self-assembled TiO2 thin film was coated at a 1.2 mm thickness by the evaporation process, and 3 atomic layers of the SiO2 layer was coated onto the TiO2 thin film. The relative reflectance peak intensity of the photonic bandgap in the specimen was 13% before thermal treatment. The peak value was increased by sequential heat-treatments and reached the highest value of 21% at 400 degrees C.