In-solution assembly of colloidal water

Colloidal trimer assemblies were fabricated by the self-assembly of anisotropically-functionalized particles. These trimer assemblies consisted of one central 4.0 mu m diameter melamine formaldehyde particle aggregated with two 4.0 mu m diameter polystyrene particles to form a structure that looks like colloidal water''. Anisotropy was patterned onto the melamine formaldehyde particle using the particle lithography technique, and in the present case the bond angle'' for the three particles was roughly 90 degrees. This fabrication of colloidal trimers demonstrates the ability to (1) use particles as patterning masks, (2) pattern two patches onto one base particle in a controlled manner, (3) use this patterned functionalization to control the bottom-up assembly of a more complex assembly with multiple particles and controlled bond angles, and (4) fabricate multiple materials into the same assembly.