Photonic crystals doped with perylenediimide for laser applications

The aims of this study consist in the fabrication of polymeric photonic crystals (PCs) doped with perylenediimide (PDI) derivatives. Monodisperse coreshell polymer particles doped with PDI have been obtained by a terpolymerization process using a soap-free emulsion. The components of the emulsion were styrene, acrylic acid and a PDI chromophore presenting a methacrylate functional group. The polymer colloids allowed the fabrication of PC structures that have been investigated by SEM, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The PDI chromophore participation in the polymerization process modifies the latex properties such as polymer colloids size and, therefore, the optical properties of the photonic crystals. A lasing effect has been put into evidence using a sandwich type structure comprised of photonic crystals.