During the last years a novel class of highly dispersive structures based on the angular dispersion in photonic crystals has been discovered and investigated. Here we propose the use of such “superprism” structures for implementing nonlinear optical switching devices that allow the switching of an incident laser beam to one of several output positions. Since a small change in the refractive index of a photonic crystal is translated to a rapid change in the group propagation direction, nonlinear effects are enhanced in photonic crystals and can be used to obtain spatial beam switching. The goal of this project is the design and experimental realization of both an all-optical switch and an electro-optical switch based on the superprism effect in one-dimensional photonic crystals and nanostructures. Using the transfer matrix method we will simulate and design nonlinear one-dimensional photonic nanostructures with low switching energies, low coupling losses into and out off the device, and large spatial beam displacements at the exit surface. To enhance device performance we will consider structures consisting of regions with different optical periodicities and structures containing defects (cavities). We will implement the designed one-dimensional photonic nanostructures using accurate thin film deposition technology for fabricating multilayer stacks. As the nonlinear optical medium we will utilize organic nonlinear materials that are known for their high second- and third-order nonlinear coefficients as well as their fast switching times.