Polystyrene (PS) microsphere with controlled particle size ranging from 485 nm to 660 nm was synthesized by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization. The synthesized PS microspheres have uniform size with narrow size distribution and are negatively surface charged. High monodispersity of microspheres allows them self-assemble to form 2D or 3D ordered opal structure. We analyzed the opal and inverse opal structural photonic crystals obtained by vertical deposition and centrifugal sedimentation.

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... e photonic crystals in opal structure and inverse opal structure obtained by the vertical deposition method are hexagonal packed lattice. Although the photonic crystals obtained by this way are film-like materials in relatively small quantity and the preparation is time consuming, the formed materials have high degree of order in structure with fewer defects and thus it is suitable for applications requiring high ordered structural requirements. The photonic crystals of opal structure and inverse opal structure obtained by centrifugal sedimentation have a variety of arrangement structures. They are poorly ordered and contain more defects. However, a large area of photonic crystal material can be obtained by this method and the preparation cycle is short, and thus this method is suitable for the fabrication of load materials in bulk amount but with less demanding on the structure.