3D metallic photonic crystals with optical bandgaps

The paper presents the research into the fabrication of fully three-dimensional metallic nanostructures using diffusion-assisted direct laser writing, a technique that employs quencher diffusion for the fabrication of 3D structures with resolution beyond the diffraction limit. Transmission measurements of the woodpile structures and corresponding simulations show the creation of a photonic gap inside the optical part of the spectrum, centered at around 700 nm. The results show that diffusion-assisted direct laser writing and selective electroless plating can be combined to form a viable route for the fabrication of 3D dielectric and metallic photonic nanostructures.