Figure 1.

(Left) Sketch of two approaching octapods. For each octapod, the tip-to-tip length is 2L, and the pod diameter is D_p. (Right) I. The two lowest energy configurations of an octapod–octapod dimer in bulk solution, as determined from theoretical calculations of the vdW interactions: (I-1) “interlocked” configuration and (I-2) pod–pod parallel configuration. Both configurations are involved in the experimentally observed formation of 3D octapod superstructures in solution.¹⁴ II. The experimentally observed (and calculated) 2D configurations of octapods on a flat substrate after solvent evaporation:¹⁶ Square-lattice (II-1) and binary square lattice (II-2).