Ordered carbon nanotubes and globular opals as a model of multiscaling photonic crystals

TL;DR

This study compares the spectral properties of ordered carbon nanotube carpets and globular opals, revealing unique photonic behaviors across multiple scales and proposing models for light propagation in these complex structures.

Contribution

It introduces a comparative analysis of photonic crystals with different microstructures, providing insights into their IR spectral features and modeling light behavior.

Findings

Distinct spectral features in IR region for nanotube carpets and opals

Identification of abnormal reflectance and absorbance regions

Proposed models for light propagation in multiscale photonic structures

Abstract

Experimental data on carbon nanotube carpet and synthetic opals have been compared by visible, infrared spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. Spectral features of the objects under study in infrared region are registered. Three regions of abnormal behavior of reflectance and absorbance for carbon nanotube carpet and two regions for opals in the 7000-2000 cm-1 are observed in comparison with the separated nanotubes or SiO2 globules in disordered states and/or condensed state. The spectroscopic features of the photonic crystals caused by their different microstructures at different length scales and basis for development of a proper model for light propagation through the photonic crystals in the IR region are presented for discussion.