Biomimetic approach for exact control of TiO₂ periodic microstructures

Periodic array of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) microprojections was fabricated in aqueous solutions using poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) films with ordered microcavities as a mold. The periodic microprojections consisting of crystalline TiO₂ exquisitely transcribed the architecture of the mold without deformation or shrinkage. This biomimetic route including preferable nucleation on the specific organic surface and subsequent growth of the crystalline phase at a low temperature is applicable to construct three-dimensional periodic architectures for photonic structures of various metal oxides.