Electrodeposition of 3D ordered macroporous germanium from ionic liquids: A feasible method to make photonic crystals with a high dielectric constant

Abstract

A promising method for the production of germanium photonic crystals consists of electrodeposition of Ge from GeCl4-containing ionic liquids inside templates of polystyrene colloidal crystals and subsequent removal of the template. This room-temperature method gives rise to the fabrication of a three-dimensional highly ordered macroporous germanium nanostructure (see picture; scale: 2μm) as a prototype of a photonic crystal. © 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.