Direct laser writing of three-dimensional photonic crystal lattices within a PbS quantum-dot-doped polymer material

We report on the synthesis of a homogenous PbS quantum-dot-doped polymer material of thickness up to 100 micrometers. It is shown that high quality micro-void channels of submicrometer diameters can be directly fabricated into this nanocomposite by using an ultrafast femtosecond laser beam. Periodically stacked channels in the form of a three-dimensional photonic crystal woodpile lattices reveals a main stop gaps as well as higher-order gaps that overlaps the near-infrared emission wavelength range of PbS quantum dots. These partial stop gaps are well defined in an angular range from zero to 15 degrees in the stacking direction. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.