Lattice Constant Tuning and Disorder Effects in 3D Colloidal Photonic Crystals

This paper uses the plane-wave expansion and finite-difference time-domain methods to study tunable 3D photonic crystals for use in display applications. The paper calculates particle diameter and refractive index for operation across the visible spectrum and estimates the reflectivity achievable for one to five layers of particles. The effects of disorder in particle position and diameter are then studied and the results show the system to be robust against such effects. Finally, the paper discusses the potential performance of this display technology in terms of reflectivity, color gamut, and contrast ratio.