| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/D033047/1 |
| Title: |
Electrically Tunable Photonic Crystals |
| Principal Investigator: |
Vincent, Professor B |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Bristol |
| Scheme: |
Technology Programme (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 October 2005 |
Ends: |
31 December 2007 |
Value (£): |
239,017
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Processing |
Materials Synthesis & Growth |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Conventional electronic colour displays (e.g. TV screens) are based on such technologies as liquid crystals and plasmas. Another way of achieving similar effects would be to use two-dimensional colloidal crystals, supported by (but not actually attached to) a flat transparent surface (e.g. a glass microscope slide). The regular array of particles produces diffraction colours (similar to the colours produced in opals), provided the spacing between the particles is of the order of the wavelength of the incident light. The difficulty to date has been to produce 2D colloidal crystals whereby the inter-particle spacing (and therefore the colours observed) can be changed rapidly. We have recently demonstrated how this can be achieved by applying electric fields of a suitable strength and distribution across 2D crystals based on polystyrene latex particles. Fast response times can be achieved. We now wish to explore the scientific basis of this effect further in order to increase the performance criteria. In particular, we wish to investigate an extension to multilayer (rather than single layer, 2D) colloidal crystals. This should lead to more intense colours. We also wish to explore other types of particles, in particular, particles with a much higher refractive index, such as metal particles and electrically-conducting polymer particles.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.bris.ac.uk |