Assembly of Patchy Colloidal Rods

Assembly of Patchy Colloidal Rods

Aayush A Shah¹, Benjamin Schultz², Sharon C. Glotzer^1,2,3, and Michael J. Solomon^{1, 3}

¹ Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

² Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI

³ Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI

e-mail: aayushs@umich.edu

We report the synthesis and assembly of patchy rods that combine both shape and interaction anisotropy. These particles are synthesized by sequentially combining evaporative deposition of chrome and gold with the uniaxial deformation of polymeric colloidal particles. We assemble these patchy particles at various salt concentrations and demonstrate patch functionality using newly developed two-channel confocal imaging and image processing. We further direct the assembly of our shape anisotropic patchy particles using AC electric fields. The metallic patch has a significantly higher polarity in AC fields as compared to the polymer component of the particle and this leads to formation of unique chain-like structural motifs. Finally, we achieve reversible reconfiguration in our assemblies by employing AC electric fields on self-assembled particle structures.