title: Colloids with valence and specific directional bonding.
abstract: The ability to design and assemble three-dimensional structures from colloidal particles is limited by the absence of specific directional bonds. As a result, complex or low-coordination structures, common in atomic and molecular systems, are rare in the colloidal domain. Here we demonstrate a general method for creating the colloidal analogues of atoms with valence: colloidal particles with chemically distinct surface patches that imitate hybridized atomic orbitals, including sp, sp(2), sp(3), sp(3)d, sp(3)d(2) and sp(3)d(3). Functionalized with DNA with single-stranded sticky ends, patches on different particles can form highly directional bonds through programmable, specific and reversible DNA hybridization. These features allow the particles to self-assemble into 'colloidal molecules' with triangular, tetrahedral and other bonding symmetries, and should also give access to a rich variety of new microstructured colloidal materials.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Design Institute and Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Yufeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Dana R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Breed
authors.forename: Vinothan N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Manoharan
authors.forename: Lang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hollingsworth
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weck
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Pine
mesh_terms: D000578:Amidines / Q000737:chemistry; D001710:Biotin / Q000737:chemistry; D003102:Colloids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007700:Kinetics; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008863:Microspheres; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000578:Amidines; D003102:Colloids; D011137:Polystyrenes; D001710:Biotin; D004247:DNA