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Structure–property relationships in tin dioxide materials have been studied utilizing a reverse templating strategy to synthesize opaline structures with controlled neck dimensions between spheres. The necking dimensions could be controlled by sintering the parent silica opals at temperatures between 700 and 1050 °C. Inverted polymer opals were synthesized by infiltrating the silica opals with styrene, followed by thermally induced polymerization, and removal of the silica with HF. Tin dioxide opals with controlled microstructures were then synthesized from these inverted polymer opals. The gas sensing response of these materials to carbon monoxide could be understood as a function of the necking diameter in the resulting tin dioxide opals.

This paper surveys recent developments in engineering physics approaches and self‐assembly chemistry methodologies for creating 3D photonic crystals and how this has led to in‐wafer patterned colloidal crystals. These materials are comprised of single crystal micrometer scale features of silica colloidal crystals that have controlled thickness, area, and orientation and are embedded within a single crystal silicon wafer. Two processes for growing opal‐patterned chips are described. One is based upon microfluidic and the other spin coating driven self‐assembly of colloidal silica micro‐spheres within a lithographic patterned silicon wafer.

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