Self-assembly of photonic crystals by controlling the nucleation and growth of DNA-coated colloids.

ABSTRACT: DNA-coated colloids can self-assemble into an incredible diversity of crystal structures, but their applications have been limited by poor understanding and control over the crystallization dynamics. To address this challenge, we use microfluidics to quantify the kinetics of DNA-programmed self-assembly along the entire crystallization pathway, from thermally activated nucleation through reaction-limited and diffusion-limited phases of crystal growth. Our detailed measurements of the temperature and concentration dependence of the kinetics at all stages of crystallization provide a stringent test of classical theories of nucleation and growth. After accounting for the finite rolling and sliding rates of micrometer-sized DNA-coated colloids, we show that modified versions of these classical

SUBMITTER: Hensley A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8740761 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature