Photonic crystal microspheres

• Photonic crystals in the form of spherical microparticles were synthesized.
• Spray-drying synthesis without surfactants at room temperature was used.
• Diffraction reflections at large angles to the (1 1 1) face were observed.

Spherical samples of photonic crystals formed by colloidal SiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized. Synthesis of microspheres from 160 nm, 200 nm and 430 nm diameter colloidal nanoparticles was performed over a wide size range, from 5 μm to 50 μm. The mechanism of formation of void microparticles exceeding 50 μm is discussed. The spectral measurements verified the association of the spectra with the peaks of selective reflection from the cubic lattice planes. The microparticle morphology is characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

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