Macrocrystalline colloidal assemblies in an electric field

Abstract

Macrocrystalline colloidal assemblies with tunable non-spherical shape are fabricated through colloidal crystallization under an AC electric field. Also, by field-induced drop breakup, uniform micrometer-sized macrocrystalline particles can be synthesized (see Figure). Interestingly, the electrical field promotes infiltration of the suspending oil, which can be used for fabricating photonic crystals with high refractive index mismatch.