title: Large-domain colloidal crystal films fabricated using a fluidic cell.
abstract: The growth of colloidal crystal films from a dispersion of monodispersed silica spheres using a simple cell with one opening was investigated. Colloidal crystal films with large domain sizes were successfully fabricated almost over the cell (approximately 10 cm2) without applying any external force at room temperature. During the drying process, three distinct conditions were observed, in each of which the films exhibited different optical properties. Films with high transmittance were formed in the first stage. Upon further solvent evaporation, the films entered a medium transmittance state via an extremely low transmittance state. Angle-resolved reflection spectroscopy, which was used to analyze the three conditions, revealed that close-packed arrays with water-filled spaces between were formed in the first stage. One-directional flow was generated in the cell because water evaporation occurred only at the opening. The flow caused the spheres to be arranged epitaxially, resulting in a large domain size.
authors.affiliation: Toyota Central Research & Development Laboratories, Incorporated, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1192, Japan. m-ishi@mosk.tytlabs.co.jp
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Azusa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsukigase
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harada