Self-assembled silica PC (photonic crystals) were bombarded by 6 MeV Au ions to different doses at LN temperature. Reflection spectra of the irradiated PC exhibited the following transformations: the centre of reflection band shifted toward short wavelength
and the bandwidth was broadened. Moreover
the shift and broadening of reflection band increased with the dose. By fitting- analysis of the spectra
combining the SEM imaging
we came up with an explanation
which attributes optical transformations of PC to the structural changes induced by ion irradiation. This work could be of help for modifying the PC structure to achieve specific optical properties.