Quasicrystalline Structures and Uses Thereof

• US 20090212265A1
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton University)
• Original Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton University)
• Inventors: Chaikin, Paul Michael, Steinhardt, Paul Joseph, Man, Weining
• Granted Patent: US 8,064,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 252/501.100
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 220/56 Acrylamide; Methacrylamide
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 222/385 Monomers containing two or more (meth)acrylamide groups, e.g. N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 59/245 aromatic
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 65/22 Cyclic ethers having at least one atom other than carbon and hydrogen outside the ring
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1225 comprising photonic band-gap structures or photonic lattices
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/002 having heterojunctions or graded gap

Abstract

This invention relates generally to the field of quasicrystalline structures. In preferred embodiments, the stopgap structure is more spherically symmetric than periodic structures facilitating the formation of stopgaps in nearly all directions because of higher rotational symmetries. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of quasicrystalline structures for optical, mechanical, electrical and magnetic purposes. In some embodiments, the invention relates to manipulating, controlling, modulating and directing waves including electromagnetic, sound, spin, and surface waves, for a pre-selected range of wavelengths propagating in multiple directions.

Claims

1. A composition of matter which comprises a quasicrystalline arrangement of materials, said materials having a quasiperiodically ordered pattern with a preselectable rotational symmetry having a characteristic photonic bandgap structure forbidden in a crystalline material.

2. The composition of matter of claim 1 wherein the quasicrystalline structure comprises at least two dielectric materials.

3. The composition of matter of claim 1 wherein the quasicrystalline structure includes higher point group symmetry than a crystalline counterpart.

4. The composition of matter of claim 3 wherein a complete bandgap is spherically symmetric and/or circularly symmetric.

5-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A method of making a photonic bandgap material which comprises arranging dielectric elements or materials in a quasicrystalline order, said photonic bond gap material comprising a quasiperiodically ordered pattern with a preselectable rotational symmetry and a characteristic photonic bandgap structure forbidden in a crystalline material.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said quasicrystalline order comprises structural defects introduced by removing or positioning particles or elements in the quasicrystal in a manner to thereby control the optical and physical properties of said quasicrystal.

21. The use of a quasicrystal to produce a photonic bandgap material.

22. An icosahedral photonic quasicrystal.

23. A material comprising first and second quascrystalline patterns, each pattern comprising locations, said material comprising a plurality of refractive indices wherein said plurality refractive indices have a plurality of maximum values and a plurality of minimum values and wherein said plurality of maximum values are at locations in a first pattern that is quasicrystalline and said minimum values are at locations in a second pattern that is quasicrystalline.

24. The material of claim 23, wherein said plurality of refractive indices further comprises a plurality of medium values at locations in a third pattern that is quasicrystalline.

25. The material of claim 23, wherein said first pattern is quasicrystalline in three-dimensional space.

26. The material of claim 23, wherein said first pattern produces an icosahedral shape.

27. A structure comprising a first material that is separated into a plurality of units and a second material wherein said first material has a refractive index different from the refractive index of said second material wherein said second material interconnects said plurality of units of said first material wherein said plurality of units of said first material is arranged in a pattern that is quasicrystalline.

28. The structure of claim 27, wherein said pattern is quasicrystalline in three-dimensional space.

29. The structure of claim 27, wherein said units are positioned at a distance of less than 1.0 centimeter and greater than 1.0 micrometer between two individual units.

30. The structure of claim 27, wherein said plurality of units are spheres.

31. The structure of claim 27, wherein said pattern produces an icosahedral shape.

32. The structure of claim 27, wherein said second material is a gel.

33. A structure comprised of a plurality of spheres and a plurality of rods wherein said plurality of spheres are arranged in a pattern that is quasicrystalline and wherein said rods interconnect said plurality of spheres.

34. The structure of claim 33, wherein said plurality of spheres are positioned at a distance of less than 1.0 centimeter and greater than 1.0 micrometer between two individual spheres.

35. The structure of claim 33, wherein said pattern is quasicrystalline in three-dimensional space.

36. The structure of claim 33, wherein said pattern produces an icosahedral shape.