Annealing cycles and the self-organization of functionalized colloids

@article{Dias2017AnnealingCA,
  title={Annealing cycles and the self-organization of functionalized colloids},
  author={Crist{\'o}v{\~a}o S Dias and Nuno A. M. Ara{\'u}jo and Margarida Maria Telo da Gama},
  journal={Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter},
  year={2017},
  volume={30}
}
The self-assembly of functionalized (patchy) particles with directional interactions into target structures is still a challenge, despite the significant experimental advances in their synthesis. Self-assembly pathways are typically characterized by high energy barriers that hinder access to stable (equilibrium) structures. A possible strategy to tackle this challenge is to perform annealing cycles. By periodically switching on and off the inter-particle bonds, one expects to smooth-out the… 
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