Meniscus-mediated organization of colloidal nanoparticles

We put forward a new strategy to elucidate and guide the processes underlying the organization of colloidal nanoparticles. The high wettability of toluene on a Teflon ring causes a nanoparticle solution on a silicon substrate to adopt a meniscus, rather than a droplet, shape. This simple ring configuration enables a systematic investigation of the interplay of contact-line dynamics and evaporation in pattern formation in nanoparticle assemblies.