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Origami Inspired Self-assembly of Patterned and Reconfigurable Particles
Published on: February 4, 2013
Directed self-assembly of colloidal dumbbells with an electric field
Ahmet Faik Demirörs1, Patrick M Johnson, Carlos M van Kats
1Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands. A.F.Demirors@uu.nl
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|August 19, 2010
Summary
We show how dumbbell-shaped colloidal particles can self-assemble into crystals using an electric field. This method allows for the discovery of new crystal structures and manipulation of photonic properties.
Area of Science:
- Colloid science
- Materials science
- Crystallography
Background:
- Nonspherical colloidal particle preparation is advancing.
- Achieving 3D crystalline lattices from these particles is challenging.
- Quantitative 3D studies of such assemblies are rare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the assembly of "dumbbell" colloidal particles into crystals.
- To investigate the influence of electric fields on assembly.
- To explore novel crystal structures and their properties.
Main Methods:
- Confocal microscopy for 3D real-space observation.
- Controlled application of electric fields.
- Systematic variation of particle aspect ratio and interaction range.
Main Results:
- Successful assembly of dumbbell particles into crystalline structures.
- Discovery of three previously unobserved crystal structures.
- Demonstration of electric-field-induced switching between structures.
- Tunable photonic properties via electric field manipulation.
Conclusions:
- Electric fields are effective for assembling nonspherical colloidal particles.
- This work expands the understanding of self-assembly principles.
- New crystalline phases and tunable photonic behaviors were achieved.
