Molecular-based polyhedral crystalline colloids

We fabricate a new family of colloids with polyhedral morphology by controlled crystallization of metal ions and organic bridging ligands in the presence of capping regents. The size and morphology of the crystalline colloids can be tuned by changing the ratio of the metal ions to the organic ligands and the amount of the capping regents. Unlike spheres that isotropically interact along a curved surface, the polyhedral particles in suspension associate in a directional facet-to-facet fashion, forming clusters whose elemental units are orderly not only in interparticle distance but also mutual orientation. We also present unique supraparticle structures obtained by mixing different particles.