Manipulation of fluids in three-dimensional porous photonic structures with patterned surface properties
AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsJoanna Aizenberg, Ian Burgess, Lidiya Mishchenko, Benjamin Hatton, Marko Loncar
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Abstract
A three-dimensional porous photonic structure, whose internal pore surfaces can be provided with desired surface properties in a spatially selective manner with arbitrary patterns, and methods for making the same are described. When exposed to a fluid (e.g., via immersion or wicking), the fluid can selectively penetrate the regions of the structure with compatible surface properties. Broad applications, for example in security, encryption and document authentication, as well as in areas such as simple microfluidics and diagnostics, are anticipated.
Claims40
A system for providing an indication of the presence of one or more indicator materials, the system comprising:
- a porous three-dimensional photonic structure comprising a first region and a second region;
- wherein said first region comprises a first functional group on at least some of the interior surfaces of the porous three-dimensional photonic structure to provide a first surface property;
- wherein said second region comprises a second functional group on at least some of the interior surfaces of the porous three-dimensional photonic structure to provide a second surface property;
- wherein the first functional group interacts with a first indicator material differently than the second functional group;
- and
- wherein a spatial gradient of surface properties are present between said first region and said second region such that the surface properties gradually change from said first region to said second region.
A method comprising:
- providing a porous three-dimensional photonic structure;
- and
- patterning said porous three-dimensional photonic structure to provide a first region and a second region,
- wherein said first region comprises a first functional group on at least some of the interior surfaces of the porous three-dimensional photonic structure to provide a first surface property;
- wherein said second region comprises a second functional group on at least some of the interior surfaces of the porous three-dimensional photonic structure to provide a second surface property;
- wherein the first functional group interacts with a first indicator material differently than the second functional group;
- and
- wherein a spatial gradient of surface properties are present between said first region and said second region such that the surface properties gradually change from said first region to said second region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.