Tungsten inverse opals:: The influence of absorption on the photonic band structure in the visible spectral region

We report on the fabrication and characterization of tungsten inverse opals for the visible and near-infrared spectral region. The crucial influence of the strong absorption in this spectral region is experimentally investigated by means of a gradient deposition technique and characterization with reflectance and transmittance spectroscopy. With increasing metal infiltration, we observe the breakdown of the photonic band structure, resulting first in a sphere-cavity-like behavior and finally in a behavior similar to that of a periodically structured metal surface. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.