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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
Published on: April 22, 2016
Synthesis of colloidal silica dumbbells
Patrick M Johnson1, Carlos M van Kats, Alfons van Blaaderen
1Soft Condensed Matter Group, Debye Institute, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands. patrick.johnson@simmons.edu
Abstract:
We describe the synthesis and characterization of stable suspensions of monodisperse fluorescently labeled silica dumbbell particles. Pure dispersions of silica dumbbells with center-to-center lengths from 174 nm to 2.3 microm were produced with a variety of aspect ratios. Individual particles in concentrated dispersions of these particles could be imaged with confocal microscopy. These particles can be used as a colloidal model system for addressing fundamental questions about crystal and glass formation of low-aspect-ratio anisotropic particles. They also have potential in photonic applications and electro-optical devices.

