Poly(styrene/α-tertbutoxy-ω-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol) micro spheres for the preparation of novel photonic crystals

Abstract

We report on the preparation of a novel photonic crystal assembled from poly(styrene/α-tertbutoxy-ω-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol) microspheres. The latex particles were fully characterized in terms of size (271 nm, D w/Dn=1.004), electrophoretic mobility (-3.79×10 -8 m2V-1s-1) and surface chemical composition (evidence for a PGL-rich particle surface). They were then assembled into 3D colloidal crystal showing an optical stop band in the visible region. The λmax for the Bragg diffraction peak is 570 nm. As the particles under study are highly hydrophilic and biocompatible, this work opens up new opportunities for the design of photonic crystal-based biosensing devices.