Non-equilibrium colloidal materials

Traditional material science predominantly focuses on equilibrium states, yet living systems exemplify how multifunctionality arises from non-equilibrium dynamics. This perspective highlights colloidal systems as a promising platform for exploring non-equilibrium material paradigms, owing to their weak interactions, slow energy dissipation, and adaptability to external stimuli. Non-equilibrium colloids exhibit unique properties across diverse domains: topological acoustic metamaterial, self-adaptive optics and tunable rheological materials, etc. Furthermore, unlike equilibrium systems, non-equilibrium colloidal systems show emergent intelligence through self-organizing dissipative structures, as evidenced by colloidal swarms capable of quorum decision-making. However, challenges persist in three key areas: controlling complex interactions, developing predictive thermodynamic models, and exploring intrinsic intelligent behaviors in mateirals. This paper examines non-equilibrium colloidal materials through the lens of their physical properties and practical applications, offering insights into the research significance and challenges of non-equilibrium colloidal materials.