Carmen López-López

Porous one dimensional photonic crystals: novel multifunctional materials for environmental and energy applications

In recent times, several synthetic pathways have been developed to create multilayered materials of diverse composition that combine accessible porosity and optical properties of structural origin, i.e., not related to absorption. These materials possess a refractive index that varies periodically along one direction, which gives rise to optical diffraction effects characteristic of Bragg stacks or one-dimensional photonic crystals (1DPCs). The technological potential of such porous optical materials has been demonstrated in various fields related to energy and environmental sciences, such as detection and recognition of targeted biological or chemical species, photovoltaics, or radiation shielding. In all cases, improved performance is achieved as a result of the added functionality porosity brings. In this review, a unified picture of this emerging field is provided.

Angular response of photonic crystal based dye sensitized solar cells.

An experimental analysis of the performance of photonic crystal based dye sensitized solar cells under different illumination angles is realized and compared to that of both semi-transparent and opaque cells.

Enhanced diffusion through porous nanoparticle optical multilayers

Herein we demonstrate improved mass transport through nanoparticle one-dimensional photonic crystals of enhanced porosity. Analysis is made by impedance spectroscopy using iodine and ionic liquid based electrolytes and shows that newly created large pores and increased porosity improve the diffusion of species through the photonic crystal. This achievement is based on the use of a polymeric porogen (polyethylene glycol), which is mixed with the precursor suspensions used for the deposition of nanoparticle TiO2 and SiO2 layers and then eliminated to generate a more open interconnected void network, as confirmed by specular reflectance porosimetry. A compromise between pore size and optical quality of these periodic structures is found.

On the organization of the nucleosomes associated with telomeric sequences.

The functions of telomeres and, probably, of interstitial telomeric sequences (ITSs) are influenced by their chromatin structure and organization. Telomeres in higher eukaryotes fold into nucleosomes that are about 20-40 bp shorter than the nucleosomes associated with bulk chromatin. Although the functional relevance of this short nucleosomal organization remains unknown, it is believed that short nucleosomes should contribute to telomere function. Whereas telomeric nucleosomes have been widely studied in different organisms, very little is known about the nucleosomal organization of ITSs. Chinese hamster ITSs have been found to associate with short nucleosomes. However, we have found that Arabidopsis thaliana ITSs fold into nucleosomes that have a repeat length similar to bulk chromatin. We discuss how the primary sequence of telomeres and ITSs could influence their nucleosomal organization.

Integration of gold nanoparticles in optical resonators.

The optical absorption of one-dimensional photonic crystal based resonators containing different types of gold nanoparticles is controllably modified by means of the interplay between planar optical cavity modes and localized surface plasmons. Spin-casting of metal oxide nanoparticle suspensions was used to build multilayered photonic structures that host (silica-coated) gold nanorods and spheres. Strong reinforcement and depletion of the absorptance was observed at designed wavelength ranges, thus proving that our method provides a reliable means to modify the optical absorption originated at plasmonic resonances of particles of arbitrary shape and within a wide range of sizes. These observations are discussed on the basis of calculations of the spatial and spectral dependence of the optical field intensity within the multilayers.

Characterization of mesoporous thin films by specular reflectance porosimetry.

The pore size distribution of mesoporous thin films is herein investigated through a reliable and versatile technique coined specular reflectance porosimetry. This method is based on the analysis of the gradual shift of the optical response of a porous slab measured in quasi-normal reflection mode that occurs as the vapor pressure of a volatile liquid varies in a closed chamber. The fitting of the spectra collected at each vapor pressure is employed to calculate the volume of solvent contained in the interstitial sites and thus to obtain adsorption-desorption isotherms from which the pore size distribution and internal and external specific surface areas are extracted. This technique requires only a microscope operating in the visible range attached to a spectrophotometre. Its suitability to analyze films deposited onto arbitrary substrates, one of the main limitations of currently employed ellipsometric porosimetry and quartz balance techniques, is demonstrated. Two standard mesoporous materials, supramolecularly templated mesostructured films and packed nanoparticle layers, are employed to prove the concept proposed herein.