Comprehensive view of microscopic interactions between DNA-coated colloids.

ABSTRACT: The self-assembly of DNA-coated colloids into highly-ordered structures offers great promise for advanced optical materials. However, control of disorder, defects, melting, and crystal growth is hindered by the lack of a microscopic understanding of DNA-mediated colloidal interactions. Here we use total internal reflection microscopy to measure in situ the interaction potential between DNA-coated colloids with nanometer resolution and the macroscopic melting behavior. The range and strength of the interaction are measured and linked to key material design parameters, including DNA sequence, polymer length, grafting density, and complementary fraction. We present a first-principles model that screens and combines existing theories into one coherent framework and quantitatively reproduces ou

SUBMITTER: Cui F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9051097 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature