Control of the optical band structure of liquid crystal infiltrated inverse opal by a photoinduced nematic-isotropic phase transition

Recently, photonic band gap (PBG) crystals with lattice parameters comparable to the wavelength of light have attracted much attention, because they offer unique ways in which to control the propagation of light. PBG crystals have applications in laser, quantum optical devices, and so on. For many of these applications, it is important to have the capability of tuning the photonic band structures. The fabrication of such tunable PBG crystals is still a challenge. In this paper, we proposed that switchable PBG crystals could be realized by taking advantage of the phase transition in liquid crystals induced by the photoisomerization of azo dyes. A dynamic change in the optical stop band was demonstrated. Such photoswitchable PBG crystals provide a method by which light can be routed using light. Copyright © 2002 American Chemical Society.