Directions for targeted self-assembly of anisotropic colloids from statistical thermodynamics

This article reviews recent results from statistical thermodynamics that may be used to advance experimental efforts to self-assemble particular target structures from anisotropic colloidal particles. So that experiments may take advantage of the rapid progress made in the theory and simulation of anisotropic particle self-assembly, I emphasize three areas: (i) the specification, characterization, and measurement of the pair potential interactions of anisotropic colloids, which is necessary to quantitatively connect experiments with the simulation and theory; (ii) phase diagrams of anisotropic particles from the theory and simulation, which indicate the conditions of thermodynamic stability of the target crystal structures; and (iii) field-assisted assembly methods, which allow experimentalists to efficiently study the conditions identified in the simulated phase diagrams. Together, these three directions specify a rational way to self-assemble particular target structures from anisotropic colloids whose quantities are typically limited.

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► Theoretical phase diagrams can guide self-assembly of anisotropic colloids.
► Better characterization of anisotropic potential interactions is needed.
► More efficient assembly methods based on applied external fields should be used.