Spontaneous ordering and formation of superstructures in nature have long inspired physicists, chemists, and materials scientists. The intricate ordering of atomic and molecular building blocks allows for the realization of a seemingly infinite number of different materials, each with its own properties and functions. From hard rocks and gemstones to squishy cells and tissues, all result from a hierarchical organization of their elementary constituents.
That library of structures can be expanded even further by considering not only atoms and molecules but also colloids as building blocks. Colloids—or more correctly speaking colloidal particles—are relatively small entities, with characteristic dimensions of 10–1000 nm, that are dispersed in a continuous medium.1 Examples of colloidal systems from our daily lives include milk (liquid fat droplets in water), paint (solid particles in water), and smoke (solid particles in air). Despite being significantly larger than atoms and typical molecules, colloidal particles are also subject to...
