Patent ID: 7008567
Filing Date: 2006-03-07
Classification: B82Y,C30B,G02B,G02F

Abstract:
1. A method for making a composite having tunable electromagnetic wave diffracting properties comprising the steps of: a) allowing colloidal particles to self-assemble into a crystalline colloidal array in a medium; b) adding at least one hydrogel-forming monomer to the medium containing the crystalline colloidal array; c) polymerizing the at least one hydrogel-forming monomer to form a polymerized crystalline colloidal array having a hydrogel matrix; d) dehydrating the hydrogel matrix of the polymerized crystalline colloidal array; e) swelling the dehydrated polymerized crystalline colloidal array with at least one monomer; and f) polymerizing the at least one monomer thereby forming an essentially water-free, non-hydrogel polymerized crystalline colloidal array.