Bifunctional molecules that link sites (e.g., ligands) on neighboring nanoparticles offer a powerful handle for design of functional colloidal assemblies. Linkers can be selected to deliberately template colloid spacing and valence in three-dimensional networks, as demonstrated for plasmonic clusters, superlattices, and gels In recent studies, doped metal oxide nanocrystal dispersions underwent pronounced structural changes upon linker-mediated gelation by dynamic covalent bonding, and the resulting LSPR coupling led to substantial modulation of their infrared extinction spectra. Since mechanical properties of colloidal gels are also sensitive to network architecture, linked colloidal gel assembly presents an attractive platform for preparing hybrid materials with targeted optical and mechanical properties, and distinctive mechano-optical response.