Self-assembly of colloidal particles into complex structures

COLL 517

Younan Xia, Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, 109 Bagley Hall, Seattle, WA 98195
We have actively exploroed the use of spherical colloids as building blocks in forming complex structures through self-assembly. In one approach, we have assembled spherical colloids into polygons, polyhedrons, and helical chains by confining with various templates. In another approach, we have organize spherical colloids into three-dimensional crystals with interesting photonic properties. This talk will briefly discuss all these methods, with an emphasis on their mechanisms and potential extensions.