Optical properties in 2D photonic crystal structure using fullerene and azafullerene thin films

Theoretical calculations via a transfer matrix method were performed to investigate the possibility of fullerene films acting as two-dimensional (2D) photonic band gap crystals. The response within and out of the periodic structure of 2D photonic crystals consisting of air rods drilled into C₆₀ or (C₅₉N)₂ films was studied. PBG was found around 0.85-1.24 eV in the near infrared region. We find that fullerene-based networks could be good candidates for absolute inhibition of transmission in the near infrared range for given orientations.