Fig. 3: Spatial control over the shape of the hybrid crystals by using magnetic field.

a Optical photograph of an MNP//1–6 crystal bent at an arbitrary angle within a plane (side view). The blue arrow indicates the position of the crystal. b Schematic diagrams of MNP//1–6 bending at an arbitrary angle in a plane. c Photographs of a crystal of MNP//4 bending precisely towards 9 points that were marked on a silicon wafer. Note that the contrast of the color in these images was enhanced for clarity. The blue arrow represents the direction of movement of the magnet. d, e Schematic diagrams of MNP//1–6 bending at an arbitrary angle in any direction in space (d), and in any direction in space inside a liquid (e). The blue arrow represents the direction of movement of the magnet. f Photographs of the MNP//4 crystal at different times in a durability test. During the test the crystal was bent between –90° and 90° by moving the magnet under the silicon wafer, followed by returning it to –90°. Note that the contrast of the color in these images was enhanced for clarity.