Photonic bandgap properties of hyperuniform systems self-assembled in a microfluidic channel

TL;DR

This paper investigates the photonic bandgap properties of hyperuniform disordered structures formed via hydrodynamic self-assembly in microchannels, revealing optimal conditions for isotropic PBG creation and potential for scalable material production.

Contribution

It introduces a novel hydrodynamic self-assembly method to create hyperuniform disordered structures with photonic bandgaps, expanding possibilities beyond crystalline materials.

Findings

Optimal hydrodynamic conditions for PBG formation identified

Minimum dielectric contrast for PBG determined

Structures exhibit isotropic photonic bandgaps

Abstract

Traditional self-assembly methods often rely on densely packed colloidal crystalline structures and have inherent limitations in generating materials with isotropic photonic bandgaps (PBG). This study explores the photonic properties of materials structured according to hyperuniform disordered patterns (HUDS) generated via a hydrodynamic process in a microchannel. This research employs simulations to characterize optical bandgaps and determine the minimum dielectric contrast required for PBG formation in structures based on the templates experimentally formed under various conditions during the hydrodynamic process. The optimal conditions in the hydrodynamic process for realizing PBG have been identified. The findings offer a promising avenue for the large-scale production of isotropic photonic bandgap materials.