Self‐Organization of Anisotropic and Binary Colloids in Thermo‐Switchable 1D Microconfinement

Abstract

Anisotropic and binary colloids self‐assemble into a variety of novel supracolloidal structures within the thermo‐switchable confinement of molecular microtubes, achieving structuring at multiple length scales and dimensionalities. The multistage self‐assembly strategy involving hard colloidal particles and a soft supramolecular template is generic for colloids with different geometries and materials as well as their binary mixtures. The colloidal architectures can be controlled by colloid shape, size, and concentration. Colloidal cubes align in chains with face‐to‐face arrangement, whereas rod‐like colloids predominantly self‐organize in end‐to‐end configurations with their long axis parallel with the long axis of the microtubes. The 1D microconfinement imposed on binary mixtures of anisotropic and isotropic colloids further increases the diversity of colloid‐in‐tube structures. In cube–sphere mixtures, cubes may act as additional confiners, locking in colloidal sphere chains, while a “colloidal Morse code” is generated where rods and spheres alternate in the case of rod–sphere mixtures. The versatile confined colloidal superstructures including their thermoresponsive assembly and disassembly are relevant for the development of stimulus–responsive materials where controlled release and encapsulation are desired.

Giant capsids from lattice self-assembly of cyclodextrin complexes

“…The main function of viral capsids and bacterial compartments is to encapsulate DNA, RNA, proteins and even magnets 2 9 16 . In this context, we recently reported that the SDS@2β-CD tubes can spontaneously enclose colloidal particles with different shapes and chemistry to form 1D straight chains, double/triple helices and hybrid structures 30 31 . An interesting case is the haematite chain inside a tube similar to the magnetosome chain inside magnetotatic bacteria 9 .…”

Finite‐Sized One‐Dimensional Silica Microstructures (Rods): Synthesis, Assembly, and Applications

“…Folter et al. demonstrated the assembly of rods alone and rods with cubes in confined molecular tube environments . Cubes joined with each other and rods joined end‐to‐end instead of side‐to‐side.…”

“…[48] Folter et al demonstrated the assembly of rods alone and rods with cubes in confined molecular tube environments. [49] Cubes joined with each other and rods joined end-to-end insteado fs ide-to-side. End-to-end assembly was favored because of the confined space that hinders the free-rotation of rods.…”

Precise Assembly of Particles for Zigzag or Linear Patterns

“…Moreover,p roperly increasing the viscosity of the system results in more pronounced corrugation, because the particles rearrangement is more easily impeded in the system with higher viscosity. [22] In conclusion, we demonstrate ag eneral and facile strategy to achieve precise control of particles assembly into zigzag or linear patterns.T he formation of intermediate assembly state can be controlled by adjusting the size confinement ratios.T he evolution from intermediate state to final assembly structures can be modulated by tuning the viscosity of the assembly system. Not only spherical particles,b ut also anistropic particles or particle mixtures are anticipated to achieve an even richer library of assembled structures.…”