Shape-anisotropic colloids: Building blocks for complex assemblies

Recent breakthroughs in colloidal synthesis allow the control of particle shapes and properties with high precision. This provides us with a constantly expanding library of new anisotropic building blocks, thus opening new avenues to explore colloidal self-assembly at a higher level of complexity. This article reviews the most recent advances in the preparation and self-assembly of colloids with well-defined anisotropic shapes. A particular emphasis is given to solution-based syntheses that provide micron-sized colloids in high yields, and to assembly schemes that exploit the shape anisotropy of the building blocks involved.