# Colloidal layer deposition with a controllable number of layers and compositional order Source: [Colloidal layer deposition with a controllable number of layers and compositional order]() Collection index: [llms.txt]() Data updated: 2026-05-06T05:00:03.990Z Authors: Akshaya Kumar Jena, Aashima Aashima, Pritam Kumar Jana, Bortolo Matteo Mognetti Published: 2026-05-02T14:38:41.000Z ## Abstract We design a system with a binary suspension of colloids and a surface that triggers the self-assembly of crystallites with a finite thickness. The proposed design allows controlling the number of layers forming the aggregate and constrains the two types of particles to lie on different planes. These functionalities are achieved by decorating the colloids and the surface with multiple DNA oligomers featuring specific interactions. The surface triggers a chain of reactions between DNA oligomers, leading to localized self-assembly. Equilibrium principles control the thickness of the aggregates. Instead, compositional order is achieved by engineering the reaction kinetics between DNA oligomers in a way that limits interactions between colloids of the same type. We validate our design using theory and reaction-diffusion simulation algorithms, which capture the multibody nature of the interactions. This work demonstrates how engineering the kinetics provides a new avenue for controlling the morphology of aggregates assembled by DNA. ## Recorded benchmark results A research result applies to its stated dataset, split, metric and evaluation configuration. Compare like-for-like settings, preserve the metric's unit and direction, and distinguish paper-reported results from independent reproduction. The best result recorded here is not a claim of exhaustive, current global coverage. ## Original sources and implementation [Original paper]() [PDF]()