Fabrication and application progress of colloidal crystals

Colloidal crystals are two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) ordered arrays of micron or sub-micron sized monodisperse colloidal particles. Because of the presence of unique periodic structures, colloidal crystals possess many fascinating properties which have important applications in preparation of ordered porous materials, photonic crystals and sensors. Therefore, much attention has been paid to colloidal crystals during recent decades. In this review, we elaborate the fabrication and application progress of colloidal crystals, and propose perspectives for their future developments.