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Carbon structures with three-dimensional periodicity at optical wavelengths
1A. A. Zakhidov and I. Khayrullin are at AlliedSignal, Incorporated, Research and Technology, Morristown, NJ 07962-1021, USA, and in the Department of Thermal Physics of the Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, Katartal 28, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. R. H. Baugh.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 30, 1998
Summary
Researchers created novel porous carbons mimicking natural opal structures. These materials exhibit photonic crystal properties, offering potential for advanced optical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Optics
Background:
- Porous carbons with periodic structures are crucial for photonic applications.
- Replicating natural opal formation offers a novel synthesis pathway.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize three-dimensionally periodic porous carbons using an opal templating method.
- To investigate the structural diversity and optical properties of the resulting carbon inverse opals.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of porous silica opal crystals.
- Sintering silica opals to create intersphere interfaces.
- Infiltration with carbon precursors and subsequent silica removal.
- Characterization of resulting carbon inverse opals.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized porous carbon inverse opals with varying structures.
- Achieved diamond and glassy carbon inverse opals via volume filling.
- Produced graphite inverse opals with tiled graphite sheets via surface templating.
- Demonstrated both dielectric and metallic optical properties in the carbon inverse opals.
Conclusions:
- The opal templating method is effective for creating diverse porous carbon structures.
- The synthesized carbon inverse opals function as optical photonic crystals.
- These materials show promise for developing photonic band-gap materials.