A method for patterning self-assembled colloidal photonic crystals and a
method for fabricating three-dimensional photonic crystal waveguides
having an inverted-opal structure using the patterning method. The
patterning method includes depositing first and second conductive films
separate from each other, on an area corresponding to a pattern of the
self-assembled colloidal photonic crystals that are to be formed on a
substrate and on another area except for the area corresponding to the
pattern, respectively, and growing the photonic crystals on the substrate
on which the first and second conductive films are deposited by
dip-coating in a fluid containing colloidal particles while applying a DC
voltage to the respective first and second conductive films. Various
types of colloidal photonic crystals can be fabricated depending on the
electrode pattern defined on the substrate. Additionally,
three-dimensional photonic crystal waveguides of an inverted-opal
structure having a photonic band gap in all light-traveling directions
can be fabricated.