Thermal tuning the reversible optical band gap of self-assembled polystyrene photonic crystals

Titanium dioxide nanotubes, TiO2 NTs, can be obtained by electrochemical anodization of Titanium sheets. After nanotubes are removed by mechanical stress, residual structures or traces on the surface of titanium sheets can be observed. These traces show iridescent effects. In this paper we carry out both experimental and theoretical study of those interesting and novel optical properties. For the experimental analysis we use angle resolved UV–vis spectroscopy while in the theoretical study is evaluated the photonic spectra using numerical simulations into the frequency-domain and the framework of the wave plane approximation. The iridescent effect is a strong property and independent of the sample. This behavior can be important to design new materials or compounds for several applications such as, cosmetic industry, optoelectronic devices, photocatalysis, sensors, among others.