Patent ID: 7364673

Claim:
A wavelength tunable composite material, comprising: an ordered array of first constituents having a first refractive index embedded within a cross-linked metallopolymer network having a second refractive index different than the first refractive index, the ordered array of first constituents having a lattice spacing giving rise to a Bragg diffraction wavelength when the composite material is illuminated; the cross-linked metallopolymer network being comprised of a polymer backbone including metal atoms therein, the cross-linked metallopolymer network having an electronic configuration dependant on the metal atoms, the metal atoms being switchable between more than one electronic configuration, by which uptake or expulsion of at least one of a selected fluid and an ion by the cross-linked metallopolymer network occurs; the cross-linked metallopolymer network being expandable and contractible in response to the uptake and expulsion, respectively, so that when the cross-linked metallopolymer network takes up the at least one of the selected fluid and the ion the cross-linked metallopolymer network expands which shifts the Bragg diffraction wavelength to longer wavelengths and when the cross-linked metallopolymer network expels the at least one of the selected fluid and the ion the cross-linked metallopolymer network contracts which shifts the Bragg diffraction wavelength to shorter wavelengths, expansion and contraction of the cross-linked metallopolymer network being fully reversible.