Kinetically limited valence of colloidal particles with surface mobile DNA linkers

We characterize the self-assembly of colloidal particles with surface mobile DNA linkers under kinetically limited valence conditions. For this, we put forward a computer simulation model that captures the interplay between the main dynamic processes governing these systems and allows the simulation of the long time scales reached in experiments, predicting the final structures from a set of physical parameters mapped to experimental conditions. The model is validated by direct comparison with available experimental results, showing an overall good agreement that includes measurements of the average effective valence and its probability distribution as a function of the density of DNA linkers on the particles surface. We show that our simulation model is capable to not only reproduce the experimental structures but that it also provides dynamic information on the self-assembly process and shows how particle concentration and characteristic hybridization time influence the effective valence of the particles.