Contents: (Small 10/2012)

Self-AssemblyThe cover picture features the self-assembly of anisotropic colloidal particles, which can improve the fundamental understanding of crystallization and the glass transition as well as be applied for materials with advanced optical and mechanical properties.A DC electric fi eld device is used to rapidly self-assemble spheroids.The main image depicts a suspension of colloidal spheroids subject to a DC electric fi eld, which leads to the formation of a crystalline phase.The confocal microscopy (CLSM) image of one such structure is shown between the electrodes, and the upper left corner shows a 3D rendering of the assembly, as generated by image processing of CLSM results.The electric fi eld device is overlaid on a scanning electron microscopy image of the disordered spheroids, and the background image is a larger-scale confocal microscopy image of an electric-fi eld-induced assembly.For further information, please read the Full Paper "Liquid Crystal Order in Colloidal Suspensions of Spheroidal Particles" by M.