A microfluidic toolbox to fabricate, sort and characterize thermoresponsive colloidal molecules and their assemblies
In this thesis we discuss the assembly of thermoresponsive microgel particles into small clusters, and their use as colloidal molecules with specific and directional interactions. The underlying goal is to use these particles as advanced building blocks for new types of self- assembled structures with novel or vastly improved properties, and as model particles for investigating fundamental problemIn this thesis we discuss the assembly of thermoresponsive microgel particles into small clusters, and their use as colloidal molecules with specific and directional interactions. The underlying goal is to use these particles as advanced building blocks for new types of self- assembled structures with novel or vastly improved properties, and as model particles for investigating fundamental problem