Photonic Crystals from Emulsion Templates

Macroporous titania, which undergoes transition to the rutile phase by calcination without collapse of the pore structure, is obtained by polymerizing a titania sol suspended around “colloidal crystals” of oil droplets. The deformable template counteracts cracking of the titania phase. The Figure shows a scanning electron micrograph of a rutile sample with 200 nm pores obtained by the method described. Macroporous titaniais obtained by polymerizing a titania sol suspended around “colloidal crystals” of oil droplets. The deformable template counteracts cracking of the titania phase. The Figure shows a scanning electron micrograph of a rutile sample with 200 nm pores, obtained by calcining the titania gel. There is no resultant collapse of the pore structure.