Facile route to magnetophotonic crystals by infiltration of 3D inverse opals with magnetic nanoparticles

We report here on the fabrication and characterization of magnetophotonic crystals obtained by infiltrating magnetic nanoparticles (maghemite) into silica-based inverse opals. Good quality opals, with adjustable photonic and magnetic characteristics have been obtained by this method. Magnetic and magneto-optic measurements, performed by using SQUID magnetometry and Kerr and Faraday effects, have been used to monitor the magnetic filling of the opals. It is observed that the Kerr rotation is not proportional to the overall magnetization of the magnetophotonic crystal. Possible scenarios for this unexpected result are discussed. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Partial financial support by the CRIMAFOT-PIF08-016, MAT2008-06761-C03-01 and NANOSELECT-CSD2007-00041 projects is acknowledged.Peer Reviewe