Multifunctional Reversible Fluorescent Controller Based on a One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal

With the aim to build a multifunctional solid fluorescent controller, a one-dimensional photonic crystal and CdSe fluorescent single layer were separated on the opposite sides of quartz substrates. The separation structure remarkably facilitates materials selection for the fluorescent controller, which allows one to freely choose the fluorescent substance and constituents of 1DPC from a wide range of available materials with the best desirable properties and without caring about the interactions between them. Fluorescent enhancement and weakened effect were successfully achieved when the excitation light was irradiated from different sides of the fluorescent device. In addition, the fluorescent intensity can be altered reversibly along with environmental pH values according to the change of a pH-responsive one-dimensional photonic crystal layer, which is quite different from a previously reported quenching mode. Meanwhile, the original position of the photonic stop band is essential for deciding what pH value would produce the best effect of fluorescent control. It provides a way to adjust the effect of fluorescent controller according to certain applied situations. The mechanism of fluorescent variation was confirmed by the assistance of a finite-difference time-domain simulation. Furthermore, this device is also able to modulate fluorescent wavelength and full width at half-maximum by overlapping the photonic stop band and the emission of CdSe. Therefore, this method offers a universal strategy for the fabrication of fluorescent controllers.