This concise book covers fundamental principles of colloidal self-assembly and overviews of basic and applied research in this field, with abundant illustrations and photographs. Experimental and computer simulation methods to study the colloidal self-assembly are demonstrated. Complementary videos "Visual Guide to Study Colloidal Self-Assembly" on the research procedures and assembly processes are available via SpringerLink to support learning. The book explains basic elements of mechanics and electromagnetism required to study the colloidal self-assembly, so that graduate students of chemistry and engineering courses can learn the contents on their own. It reviews important research topics, including the authors' works on the colloidal self-assembly of more than 30 years' work. The principal topics include: (1) crystallization of colloidal dispersions, with the emphasis on the role of surface charges, (2) fabrication of large and high-quality colloidal crystals by applying controlled growth methods, (3) association and crystallization by depletion attraction in the presence of polymers, (4) clustering of colloidal particles, especially those in oppositely charged systems, and (5) two-dimensional colloidal crystals. Furthermore, it covers (6) applications of colloidal crystals, ranging from cosmetics to sensing materials. We also describe space experiments on colloidal self-assembly in the International Space Station.

This book will interest graduate school students in colloid and polymer science, pharmaceutics, soft matter physics, material sciences, and chemical engineering courses. It will also be a useful guide for individuals in academia and industry undertaking research in this field.

Autorentext

Junpei Yamanaka received his Ph.D. from Kyoto University in 1991. He is currently a professor in the colloid and polymer laboratory at Nagoya City University, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. His research interests are in the self-assembly and structure formation of colloids. He has done research in this field for over 30 years and has published articles in internationally renowned journals including Physical Review Letters and the Journal of the American Chemical Society. He has more than 20 years of teaching experience at Nagoya City University and 5 years at Fukui University. Tohru Okuzono received his Ph.D. from Kyushu University in 1994. His research interests include soft matter physics, theories and numerical simulations of colloids, polymers, and non-equilibrium systems. He is currently an associate professor at Nagoya City University. He has published articles in internationally renowned journals such as Physical Review Letters, the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, and Soft Matter. He has 10 years of teaching experience at Nagoya City University and 5 years at The University of Tokyo. Akiko Toyotama received her Ph.D. from Nagoya City University in 2001. She is currently an associate professor in the colloid and polymer laboratory at Nagoya City University, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her research interests are in the structure formation of colloidal materials. She has carried out research in this field for over 20 years, and she has published articles in internationally renowned journals such as Scientific Reports, the Journal of the American Chemical Society, and Langmuir.