Bistable self-assembly in homogeneous colloidal systems for flexible modular architectures

This paper presents a homogeneous system of magnetic colloidal particles that self-assembles via two structural patterns of different symmetry. Based on observations of a real magnetic particles system, analytical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations, it is shown that the bistability is a result of an anisotropic magnetization distribution with rotational symmetry inside the particles. The presented bistability opens new possibilities to form two-dimensionally extended and flexible structures, where the connectivity between the particles can be changed in-vivo.