Self-assembly approach to metamaterials and plasmonics

Photonic crystals (PhCs), artificially created periodic structures of dielectric materials, holds promise for innovative light manipulation structures which can be viewed as a subclass of a larger family of metamaterials. A simple and inexpensive method to realize PhCs in opal configuration exploites the properties of self-assembly of colloidal nano-microspheres. These spheres and the derived self-assembled structures can be doped with different kinds of cromophores and can also coated by noble metals. In this sense, applications to active metamaterials and plasmonics-based devices suitable as fluorescent markers, for luminescence enhancement are possible. In this presentation we give a survey of experimental activity realized in our Lab.