Colloidal Engineering of Photonic Materials

University Of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara CA

Investigators

Abstract

Proposal Number: CTS-0221809 Principal Investigator: Pine, David J Institution: University of California - Santa Barbara Title: Colloidal Engineering of Photonic Materials ABSTRACT The PI's propose to study the formation of colloidal arrays within emulsion droplets to template 'supraballs' (which they define as solid spheres containing arrays of colloidal spheres or holes templated by colloidal spheres). Some of the goals include achievement of better control over suprasphere sizes by optimizing a previously developed break-off process and by employing a microfluidic device; understanding of hole/colloid ordering in supraballs and emulsification of colloidal particles; and understanding of optical properties of supraballs (light diffusion). In addition, the PI will attempt to prepare directional colloids within emulsion droplets, intending to assemble these in non close-packed structures which are advantageous for photonic materials.