| Engineering the surface properties of particles has provided a powerful tool to fabricate novel building blocks for future materials. Techniques that are capable of producing a diverse spectrum of surface-anisotropic particles in large-scale quantities by varying easily adjustable experimental parameters are needed. In this thesis, we present a Glancing Angle Vapor Deposition (GLAD) technique to produce a wide variety of surface-anisotropic (patchy) particles and study their potential for future applications.;The GLAD technique is utilized to produce patchy particles with predefined patch sizes varying from 3.7 to 50% of the particle surface. The technique is further extended to fabricate patchy particles with overlapping patches on the same hemisphere of the particle. The controlled overlap of the patches provides a new engineering dimension to these particles. A particle stamping technique is employed to access the whole particle surface during vapor deposition. The particle-stamping technique is implemented to produce patchy particles with two independent, non-overlapping patches on opposite poles by inverting the particles on a polymer stamp.;Patchy particles are investigated under AC electric fields, in concentration gradients, and in self-assembly. The dielectrophoretic behavior of patchy particles is tuned from staggered chains to network structure of horizontal and vertical chains as well as diagonal chains by varying the patch size and number. The autonomous motion of patchy particles due to a self-inflicted concentration gradient in reactive environments is studied experimentally and theoretically. Last but not the least, DFT based models are employed to investigate the self-assembly of patchy particles into target structures.;Overall, the GLAD technique is shown to provide precise control over the surface anisotropy of patchy particles. Further, the degree of surface anisotropy of the patchy particles is found to influence their properties, which enables their implementation in functional structures and a wide range of applications. |
