Optical properties of bare, sintered and coated opal-based photonic crystals

The transmission properties of close-packed opal-based photonic crystals with a SiO2 (n=1.5) matrix have been examined using the transfer matrix method. The response for bare, sintered and coated opals at the X- and L-points has been studied, which corresponds to plane waves normally incident onto the (1 0 0) and (1 1 1) crystal planes. The incomplete gap at the L-point fully inhibits the transmission of waves propagating in the [1 1 1] direction for opal sample thickness of around 20 layers. This property shows that bare opals could be good candidates for complete inhibition of transmission in the near-infrared and visible frequency range for specific orientation.