Hierarchical photonic crystals and methods of making the same
AssigneeTrustees of Tufts College
InventorFiorenzo G. Omenetto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a composition comprising a hierarchical opal that exhibits structural color when exposed to incident electromagnetic radiation. The hierarchical opal comprises nanoscale periodic cavities separated by a lattice constant, and includes a surface having grooves. The grooves may form a diffractive optical element on the surface of the hierarchical opal, such as a diffuser, a diffraction grating, a beamsplitter, a beam displacement opic, a Fresnel lens, and a micro lens, among others.
Claims32
A method of forming a hierarchical opal configured to separate wavelengths of light using a diffractive optical element, the method comprising the following steps:
- a) applying a silk fibroin solution to a lattice comprising one or more layers of a plurality of particles, the lattice forming a mold for the hierarchical opal having the diffractive optical element, wherein applying the silk fibroin solution fills voids between the plurality of particles;
- b) drying the silk fibroin solution into a composite material including the hierarchical opal and the plurality of particles;
- and
- c) removing the plurality of particles to form the hierarchical opal having the diffractive optical element formed on a surface of the hierarchical opal.
A method of forming a hierarchical opal, the method comprising:
- a) applying a silk fibroin solution to a lattice comprising a plurality of particles such that the silk fibroin solution fills voids between the plurality of particles;
- b) drying the silk fibroin solution into a composite material including the hierarchical opal and the plurality of particles;
- c) removing the plurality of particles to form the hierarchical opal comprising nanoscale periodic cavities separated by a lattice constant;
- and
- d) applying an aqueous solution to a surface of the hierarchical opal in a patterned formation, wherein the aqueous solution alters the lattice constant of the nanoscale periodic cavities located in the patterned formation to generate grooves across the surface of the hierarchical opal.
An apparatus comprising:
- a hierarchical silk fibroin opal that exhibits structural color when exposed to incident electromagnetic radiation, the hierarchical silk fibroin opal comprising nanoscale periodic cavities separated by a lattice constant, wherein the hierarchical silk fibroin opal includes a surface having grooves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.