Cover Picture: Synthesis of Light‐Diffracting Assemblies from Microspheres and Nanoparticles in Droplets on a Superhydrophobic Surface (Adv. Mater. 22/2008)

Orlin Velev and co-workers report on page 4263 on the synthesis of light-diffracting assemblies obtained from microspheres and nanoparticles in droplets on a superhydrophobic surface. The cover shows optical microscopy images of drying droplets from aqueous suspensions of monodisperse latex or latex/gold nanoparticle mixtures dispensed on superhydrophobic substrates. Colloidal crystals are formed in the surface layer of the droplets due to the flux of evaporating water. The colloidal crystals give rise to multicolored diffraction patterns upon illumination with collimated white light. Once completely dried, these templates yield structured “nanojewel” supraparticles.