Molding with nanoparticle-based one-dimensional photonic crystals: A route to flexible and transferable Bragg mirrors of high dielectric contrast

Self-standing, flexible Bragg mirror films of high refractive index contrast and showing intense and wide Bragg peaks are herein presented. Nanoparticle-based one-dimensional photonic crystals are used as templates to infiltrate a polymer, which provides the multilayer with mechanical stability while preserving the dielectric contrast existing in the mold. Such films can be lifted off the substrate and used to coat another surface of arbitrary shape. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2009.