Colloidal building blocks

This simple thermodynamic picture is substantially altered if we introduce dissimilar particles into our dispersion. The various interactions now depend on the nature of the two particles, relative to the solvent, and can either favour dispersal or aggregation. Again, this could be the basis for a natural control mechanism as the number and composition of the colloidal building blocks evolve, subtle changes in the interactions could switch a dispersion from stable to unstable. 

Self-Assembly of Colloidal Building Blocks into Complex and Controllable Structures... 

Wang Y, Price AD, Caruso F (2009) Ntmoporous colloids building blocks for a new generation of structured materials. J Mater Chem 19 6451-6464... 

Hybrid Polymer Colloids Through Assembly of Colloidal Building Blocks via Interface-Driven Templating... 

As mentioned earlier, colloidal photonic crystal devices were fabricated through a self-assembly process. This process is the most economic method to produce 3D nanostructures. When the size of a colloidal building block is half the wavelength of visible light, a physical change of the photonic crystals caused by the analytes converts into a color change. However, the width of the reflectance peak is usually broad, which disturbs the high sensitive characterization. 

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