Monodispersed ZnS dimers, trimers, and tetramers for lower symmetry photonic crystal lattices

Monodispersed ZnS dimers, trimers, and tetramers (see Figure) have been prepared by the decomposition of thioacetamide in the presence of metal salts. The hierarchically structured aggregates expand the menu of complex colloid bases available as building blocks for photonic crystal structures. Such ordered assemblies of non-spherical colloids are predicted to promote large, stable photonic bandgaps.