Oxide nanowire arrays and two-dimensional photonic crystals for control of light

This article reviews our research into artificial microstructures made of inorganic oxides and their optical functions. The described microstructures, which are potential ingredients of the emerging optical devices, include oxide nanownres and photonic crystals. Chemical solution methods were used to fabricate zinc oxide nanowire ultraviolet laser arrays and two-dimensional oxide photonic crystals with photonic band gaps at visible wavelengths. The dimensions of these microstructures were determined by considering the calculated results of the guided modes in nanowires and the band structures in photonic crystals. Current issues in fabrication and the applications of these oxide microstructures as optical devices are discussed.