Issue 7, 2011

Templated self-assembly of patchy particles

Abstract

We explore the use of templated self-assembly to facilitate the formation of complex target structures made from patchy particles. First, we consider the templating of high-symmetry shell structures around a spherical core particle. We find that nucleation around the core particle can inhibit aggregate formation, a process which often hinders self-assembly. In particular, this new assembly pathway allows dodecahedral shells to form readily, whereas these structures never form in the absence of the template. Secondly, we consider the self-assembly of multi-shell structures, where the central icosahedral core is known to form readily on its own, and which could then template the growth of further layers. We are able to find conditions under which two- and three-shell structures successfully assemble, illustrating the power of the templating approach.

Graphical abstract: Templated self-assembly of patchy particles

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Nov 2010
Accepted
14 Jan 2011
First published
15 Feb 2011

Soft Matter, 2011,7, 3423-3431

Templated self-assembly of patchy particles

A. J. Williamson, A. W. Wilber, J. P. K. Doye and A. A. Louis, Soft Matter, 2011, 7, 3423 DOI: 10.1039/C0SM01377C

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