Three‐Dimensional Network Photonic Crystals via Cyclic Size Reduction/ Infiltration of Sea Urchin Exoskeleton

• DOI: 10.1002/adma.200400131
• Publication Date: 2004-06-03T15:00:48Z
• Authors: Y.‐H. Ha; R. A. Vaia; W. F. Lynn; J. P. Costantino; J. Shin; A. B. Smith; P. T. Matsudaira; E. L. Thomas
• Keywords: 535; 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

A reduction and infiltration process for a naturally occurring 3D bicontinuous structure is demonstrated. sea urchin exoskeleton can be engineered in top–down fashion to create low absorption, high dielectric contrast photonic crystals with stop band the mid-IR regime. The Figure shows sample cut half where one (right) has been pyrolyzed, demonstrating excellent structural fidelity of replication-reduction process.