Wang, YufengWang, YubaoBreed, Dana R.Manoharan, VinothanFeng, LangHollingsworth, Andrew D.Weck, MarcusPine, David J.2016-01-262012Wang, Yufeng, Yu Wang, Dana R. Breed, Vinothan N. Manoharan, Lang Feng, Andrew D. Hollingsworth, Marcus Weck, and David J. Pine. 2012. “Colloids with Valence and Specific Directional Bonding.” Nature 491 (7422) (October 31): 51–55. doi:10.1038/nature11564.0028-0836http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:24902731The 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, sp2, sp3, sp3d, sp3d2 and sp3d3. 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.en-USJournal Article2015-12-26Yufeng Wang, Yu Wang, Dana R. Breed, Vinothan N. Manoharan, Lang Feng, Andrew D. Hollingsworth, Marcus Weck, David J. Pine2016-01-2610.1038/nature11564