Experimental research of liquid refractive index sensing by optical fiber and colloidal crystal's photonic band-gap

We use the changes of colloidal photonic crystal photonic band-gap center wavelength to research the refractive index sensing by experiment. The changes in the center wavelength of the colloidal crystals photonic band-gap are analyzed. A mold is designed to obtain a controllable self-assembly method, colloidal crystals are observed by scan electronic microscope (SEM) and the band-gap is measured by infrared spectrometer. The results are agreed well with the theoretical analysis. An experimental device is designed to test liquid refractive index. The couple of the fibers are used to measure the band-gap of colloidal crystals and the results are also discussed in theory. The results show that the band-gap of colloidal crystals can be used to measure the liquid refractive index. The new sensing mechanism is formed and it provides a new application of colloidal crystals in the sensing.