Spherical colloid engineering

This chapter provides an overview of the synthesis and functionalization of monodisperse colloidal spheres, a class of colloidal materials that represents the building blocks for the fabrication of photonic crystals. Although the most commonly employed materials are polystyrene and silica, in this contribution we expand the material range through the use of specific synthetic methods. Details about the particle forming mechanism are provided with special emphasis to the control over the size, size distribution, and particle surface characteristics. Colloidal spheres with a solid, hollow, or core shell structure are described, including a variety of organics—inorganic hybrid particles. The incorporation of fluorescent materials into the spherical colloidal particles is also described.