Shape-dictated self-assembly of photoresponsive hybrid colloids

• Main Authors: Zhang, Haiyang, Feng, Xuan, Xia, Xiuyang, Zhu, Jiao, Wang, Huaguang, Ni, Ran, Zhang, Zexin
• Other Authors: School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Chemical engineering; Colloids; Photoresponsiveness
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/170250
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The shape-dictated self-assembly of hybrid colloids induced by chemical concentration gradients generated by photocatalytic reactions of the colloids is studied. Different shapes enable the formation of assemblies with distinct lattice structures including hexagons, distorted hexagons, and squares, which are corroborated by computer simulations. Furthermore, assemblies change from lattices to chains when increasing the attraction between the colloids. The results show that photoresponsive hybrid colloids possess a unique capability for shape-dependent self-assembly, offering a practical and versatile approach to manipulate self-assembly at the microscale.