Self-Assembly of Magnetic Colloids in Soft Confinement

Abstract

The central theme in this thesis is the effect of the soft confinements consisting of molecular microtubes and fluid interfaces, on the self-assembly of colloids. We have specially focused on the synthesis of magnetic colloids and the magnetic responses of self-assembled structures including supramolecular assemblies themselves, colloidal chains in molecular microtubes, and colloidal aggregates at the flat oil-water interface. A homogeneous field and an alternating magnetic field are applied. Finally we propose several synthetic methods to obtain magnetic colloidal model systems for the future study of magnetic anisotropic colloids in soft confinements.