Strongly photonic macroporous gallium phosphide networks

A photo-assisted electrochemical etching technique to fabricate macropores in single-crystalline gallium phosphide (GaP) with variable porosity has been developed. Scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction experiments confirm that the material consists of three-dimensional, interconnected random networks with pore sizes of about 150 nanometers. Optical transmission measurements demonstrate that the nonabsorbing disordered structures strongly scatter light. The photonic strength is controlled by filling the pores with liquids of different refractive indices. Macroporous gallium phosphide filled with air has the highest scattering efficiency for visible light.