Molecular Mimetic Self‐Assembly of Colloidal Particles

Abstract

This article presents an overview of the current progress in molecular mimetic self‐assembly of colloidal particles. Firstly, the recent study of colloidal particles at interfaces is highlighted, underlining the mesoscopic mimicry of the surface activity of amphiphilic molecules using colloidal particles. Secondly, various strategies developed thus far to impart colloidal particles with anisotropy in terms of chemical composition, surface chemistry and particle morphology, which are regarded as mesoscopic atoms and molecules, are reviewed. Thirdly, an overview of the current theoretical and experimental results of using the rules of molecular synthesis and self‐assembly to direct self‐assembly of colloidal particles is presented. Finally, the experimental challenges associated with molecular mimetic self‐assembly of colloidal particles are outlined, giving a rather conservative conclusion of the status quo of this new research field with a very optimistic outlook.

One‐Pot Colloidal Synthesis of Plasmonic Patchy Particles

“…[ 1 , 3 ] While much theoretical work has been carried out to design and explore the properties and collective behavior of patchy particles, [ 4 ] the portfolio of synthetic techniques for their fabrication is still rather lacking in terms of tunable and scalable methods. [ 5 ] Due to the complexity of the patchy structure, the overwhelming majority of techniques produce particles with only two continuous regions of different materials or chemical functionalities-so-called Janus particles. [ 6 ] Methods which produce, or can be adapted to produce a limited range of patchy particles include those based on microfl uidics, [ 7 ] physical deposition, [ 8 ] templated self-assembly, [ 9 ] interface-masking, [ 10 ] facet-selective crystal growth, [ 11 ] and microcontact printing.…”

Shape-anisotropic colloids: Building blocks for complex assemblies

“…However, in contrast to molecular building blocks, whose binding is regulated by highly specific and directional interactions, colloidal building blocks are generally characterized by highly symmetric potentials (e.g., electrostatic and van der Waals), which limit their self assembly to a few simple crystal structures or disordered aggregates. It is not surprising then that over the past decade colloidal self assembly has been one of the major driving themes in materials science and that an enormous amount of work has been devoted to engineering colloidal building blocks with unusual shapes and functionalities [1][2][3]. In particular, novel synthetic strategies have been developed to impart colloidal particles with chemical and morphological anisotropy, trying to mimic atoms and molecules in their selective and directional interactions.…”

Colloidal Assembly: The Road from Particles to Colloidal Molecules and Crystals

“…[96] For atoms and molecules this is facilitated by interactions between anisotropic orbitals. In the colloidal world, it requires either particles with anisotropic shapes or spherical colloids containing patches of another composition or site-specific functional groups pointing in different direc- tions.…”