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Methods for functionalizing micrometer-sized colloidal spheres with three or more zones of chemical functionality (ABA or ABC) are described. To produce ABA triblock colloids, we functionalized the north pole, south pole, and equator to produce what we call X, Y, and K functionality according to the number of allowed nearest neighbors and their spatial arrangements. These synthesis methods allowed targeting of various lattice structures whose bonding between neighboring particles in liquid suspension was visualized in situ by optical microscopy.
Chen et al. (Mon,) studied this question.