Abstract: Sub-micrometer monodispersed polystyrene microspheres were synthesized by the emulsion polymerization technique. The three-dimensional ordered polystyrene colloidal crystals were fabricated on the surface of emulsion through a solvent evaporation method. We have fabricated colloidal crystals with the thickness of more than 450 μm by using this method. It was found that the key factor of preparation of colloidal crystal was the evaporation rate. The capillary force was the main driving force for the regular assembling of the colloidal crystal. With the decrease of solvent, the floating capability of microspheres decreased due to the increase of viscosity and caused the increase of defects.

Key words: solvent evaporation method, colloid crystal, polystyrene microspheres, capillary force