(a) Whereas previous preparation routes of mesoscale ordered systems started from hard-sphere colloids [1], we use charged colloids as templates. For hard sphere systems, the most probable interdistance of particles equals the diameter of the particles. In opposite, the most probable interdistances of charged particles depends on the concentration and can easily be varied. So, we can change the volume fractions of matrix and colloids by the concentration. We start from colloidal crystals immobilized in a crosslinked polyacrylamid matrix [2]. In a subsequent step, the interspaces can be filled with different metallic and ceramic materials. Finally, the polymer colloids can be removed by heat treatment. The characterization of the resulting three dimensional structure was done by means of TEM and SAXS.
[1] M. S. Thijsen, R. Sprik et. al., PRL 83(14), 2730 (1999)
[2] Guisheng Pan, Albert S. Tse, et. al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998 (120), 6518