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Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
Published on: April 22, 2016
Self-Assembly of Colloidal Molecules Based on Host-Guest Chemistry and Geometric Constraints
Dustin W Kurka1, Maximilian Niehues1, Bart Jan Ravoo1
1Organic Chemistry Institute and Center for Soft Nanoscience, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 40, 48149 Münster, Germany.
Abstract:
The preparation of colloidal molecules (CMs), that is, clusters of colloids with a defined aggregation number and configuration, is of continued and significant interest in colloid chemistry and materials science and numerous interactions have been utilized to drive their (self-)assembly. However, only very few reports are available on the assembly of CMs based on host-guest chemistry. In this paper, we investigate the assembly of like-charged silica particles into well-defined, core-satellite AB-type CMs in water, mediated by host-guest interactions and geometric constraints. Exploiting the inherent dynamics of noncovalent attraction and making use of a soft polymer shell to enhance multivalent host-guest interactions, we successfully synthesized AB3, AB4, and AB6 CMs by selecting the appropriate size ratio of satellite to core particles.
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