Photonic crystals containing rugate structures from a single crystalline silicon wafer was obtained by using a sinoidal alternating current during an electrochemical etch procedure. Photonic crystals were isolated from the silicon substrate by applying an electropolishing current and were then made into particles by using an ultrasonic fracture in an ethanol solution to give a smart dust. Smart dusts exhibited their unique nanostructures and optical characteristics. They exhibited sharp photonic band gaps in the optical reflectivity spectrum. The size of smart dust obtained was in the range of 10-20 nm.