Fabrication of photonic band gap crystals through colloid self-assembly methods

Photonic band gap (PBG) crystals endow people the power to control and manipulate photons, but fabrication of photonic crystals, especially those that work at the near-infrared and visible wavelength is a hard work, requiring high-quality materials. In this paper the PBG materials including semiconductors, metals, metal oxides, polymers, dyes and others are comprehensively reviewed from a standpoint of chemistry, meanwhile obtaining PBG crystals through these materials by self-assembly methods is recommended.