Three-dimensional binary superlattices of oppositely charged colloids

We report the equilibrium self-assembly of binary crystals of oppositely charged colloidal microspheres at high density. By varying the magnitude of the charge on near equal-sized spheres we show that the structure of the binary crystal may be switched between face-centered cubic, cesium chloride, and sodium chloride. We interpret these transformations in terms of a competition between entropic and Coulombic forces.