Claims
- 1. A composite having tunable electromagnetic wave diffracting properties, comprising:
a flexible, essentially water-free polymeric matrix; and a crystalline colloidal array of particles having an initial lattice spacing, the array embedded in the polymeric matrix, wherein the lattice spacing changes responsive to environmental stimulation applied to the polymeric matrix, thereby causing the electromagnetic wave diffracting properties to change, and wherein the array reverts to the initial lattice spacing essentially immediately upon removal of the environmental stimulation.
- 2. The composite set forth in claim 1 wherein the particles of the crystalline colloidal array comprise charged particles.
- 3. The composite set forth in claim 1 wherein the particles of the crystalline colloidal array comprise polymeric particles.
- 4. The composite set forth in claim 1 wherein the particles of the crystalline colloidal array comprise inorganic particles.
- 5. The composite set forth in claim 1 wherein the essentially water-free matrix comprises an acrylate polymer.
- 6. The composite set forth in claim 1 wherein the essentially water-free matrix is elastomeric.
- 7. The composite set forth in claim 1 wherein the essentially water-free matrix is crosslinked.
- 8. The composite set forth in claim 1 wherein the environmental stimulation comprises mechanical stimulation.
- 9. The composite set forth in claim 1 wherein the environmental stimulation comprises thermal stimulation.
- 10. The composite set forth in claim 1 wherein the environmental stimulation comprises electrical stimulation.
- 11. The composite set forth in claim 1 wherein the environmental stimulation comprises chemical stimulation.
- 11. A method for making a composite having tunable electromagnetic wave diffracting properties comprising the steps of:
a) allowing colloidal particles to self-assemble into a crystalline colloidal array in a medium; b) adding at least one hydrogel-forming monomer to the medium containing the crystalline colloidal array; c) polymerizing the at least one hydrogel-forming monomer to form a polymerized crystalline colloidal array having a hydrogel matrix; d) dehydrating the hydrogel matrix of the polymerized crystalline colloidal array; e) swelling the dehydrated polymerized crystalline colloidal array with at least one monomer; and f) polymerizing the at least one monomer thereby forming an essentially water-free polymerized crystalline colloidal array.
- 12. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein said colloidal particles are charged.
- 13. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the hydrogel matrix comprises a polyethylene glycol.
- 14. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the hydrogel matrix comprises a polyacrylamide.
- 15. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the step of swelling the dehydrated polymerized crystalline colloidal array with at least one monomer comprises swelling the dehydrated polymerized crystalline colloidal array with a liquid monomer.
- 16. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the step of swelling the dehydrated polymerized crystalline colloidal array with at least one monomer comprises swelling the dehydrated polymerized crystalline colloidal array with a solid monomer dissolved in a solvent.
- 17. A photonic composite having a tunable bandgap made by a process comprising the steps of:
a) allowing colloidal particles to self-assemble into a crystalline colloidal array in a medium; b) adding at least one hydrogel-forming monomer to the medium containing the crystalline colloidal array; c) polymerizing the at least one hydrogel-forming monomer to form a polymerized crystalline colloidal array having a hydrogel matrix; d) dehydrating the hydrogel matrix of the polymerized crystalline colloidal array; e) swelling the dehydrated polymerized crystalline colloidal array with at least one monomer; and f) polymerizing the at least one monomer thereby forming an essentially water-free polymerized crystalline colloidal array; wherein the bandgap shifts responsive to environmental stimulation.
- 18. The photonic composite set forth in claim 17 wherein the hydrogel matrix comprises a polyethylene glycol.
- 19. The photonic composite set forth in claim 17 wherein the hydrogel matrix comprises a polyacrylamide.
- 20. The photonic composite set forth in claim 17 wherein the at least one monomer employed in swelling the dehydrated polymerized crystalline colloidal array comprises an acrylate monomer.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Priority is hereby claimed to Provisional U.S. Application Serial No. 60/327,074, which is entitled: “POLYMERIZED CRYSTALLINE COLLOIDAL ARRAY COMPOSITES HAVING TUNABLE RADIATION DIFFRACTION PROPERTIES” filed Oct. 3, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60327074 |
Oct 2001 |
US |