Shape-dependent oriented trapping and scaffolding of plasmonic   nanoparticles by topological defects for self-assembly of colloidal dimers in   liquid crystals
  We demonstrate scaffolding of plasmonic nanoparticles by topological defects induced by colloidal microspheres to match their surface boundary conditions with a uniform far-field alignment in a liquid crystal host. Displacing energetically costly liquid crystal regions of reduced order, anisotropic nanoparticles with concave or convex shapes not only stably localize in defects but also self-orient with respect to the microsphere surface. Using laser tweezers, we manipulate the ensuing nanoparticle-microsphere colloidal dimers, probing the strength of elastic binding and demonstrating self-assembly of hierarchical colloidal superstructures such as chains and arrays. 
Bohdan Senyuk, Julian S. Evans, Paul J. Ackerman, Taewoo Lee, Pramit   Manna, Leonid Vigderman, Eugene R. Zubarev, Jao van d...
cond-mat.soft cond-mat.mtrl-sci physics.optics