Nanostructured polymers for photonics

We review recent progress in the development of polymer nanostructured materials with periodic structures and compositions having applications in photonics and optical data storage. This review provides a brief description of the microfabrication and self-assembly methods used for the production of polymer materials with periodic structures, and highlights the properties and applications of photonic materials derived from block copolymers, colloid crystals, and microfabricated polymers. We conclude with a summary of current and future research efforts and opportunities in the development of polymer materials for photonic applications.