Direct-Write Assembly of Three-Dimensional Polyelectrolyte Scaffolds, Inorganic Hybrids, and Photonic Crystals

Photonic crystals composed of a germanium hollow-woodpile architecture are created by replicating 3D microperiodic polymer scaffolds assembled by direct ink writing. First, polymer woodpiles with a face-centered tetragonal geometry are fabricated by direct ink writing. Chemical vapor depositions of silica and germanium are then performed under controlled conditions to produce optimal layer structures that maximize the photonic midgap/gap ratio. Next, the oxide and polymeric phases are removed to complete the fabrication of 3D hollow woodpile photonic crystals. The optical properties of the micro-periodic structures are measured after each processing step and correlated with changes in their geometry and composition. Together, the direct writing and replication schemes outlined above may offer a facile route for producing complex 3D structures, which may find potential application in composite, photonic, tissue engineering, and micro-fluidic devices.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Xu, Mingjie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lewis, Jennifer A.

• Engineering, Biomedical

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3290438

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/82401