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Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Fabrication of Zero Mode Waveguides for High Concentration Single Molecule Microscopy

Fabrication of Zero Mode Waveguides for High Concentration Single Molecule Microscopy

Published on: May 12, 2020

Spherical colloidal photonic crystals.

Yuanjin Zhao¹, Luoran Shang, Yao Cheng

¹State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University , Nanjing 210096, China.

Accounts of Chemical Research

|November 14, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed spherical colloidal photonic crystals (PhCs) with angle-independent photonic band gaps (PBGs). These novel PhCs offer new possibilities for advanced optical devices and applications, overcoming limitations of traditional PhC materials.

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Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Published on: April 22, 2016

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Optoelectronics
Nanotechnology

Background:

Colloidal photonic crystals (PhCs) manipulate light via photonic band gaps (PBGs) due to periodic refractive index modulation.
Traditional PhCs exhibit angle-dependent structural colors, limiting applications requiring wide viewing angles.
Natural opals and synthetic thin-film/bulk PhCs are common, but angle dependence remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To present research progress on spherical colloidal PhCs, focusing on their design, preparation, and applications.
To highlight the advantages of spherical PhCs, particularly their angle-independent PBGs.
To explore the potential of these materials in advanced optoelectronic devices.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of spherical colloidal PhCs using droplet templates and evaporation-induced crystallization or polymerization.
Utilizing microfluidics for precise generation of droplet templates, ensuring monodispersity.
Synthesis of various spherical PhC structures: close-packed, non-close-packed, inverse opal, Janus, and core-shell.

Main Results:

Spherical colloidal PhCs exhibit angle-independent PBGs due to their spherical symmetry, overcoming Bragg diffraction limitations.
Microfluidic approaches enable controlled synthesis, leading to diverse structures and enhanced functionality.
Demonstrated potential applications in displays, sensors, barcodes, and cell culture microcarriers.

Conclusions:

Spherical colloidal PhCs offer unique optical properties and overcome the angle-dependence limitations of conventional PhCs.
Advanced fabrication techniques, particularly microfluidics, are key to realizing their potential.
These materials pave the way for next-generation optoelectronic devices and biotechnological applications.