Disclosed in this specification is a method for aligning nanostructures. A substrate is coated with a liquid solution comprising particles. Before the solution is cured, circularly-polarized light is applied to the substrate to induce a magnetic field in the particles. A low strength magnetic field is then applied. The induced magnetic field of the particles aligns with the applied magnetic field. The solution is permitted to cure while simultaneously exposed to both the circularly-polarized light and the applied magnetic field. The resulting composite retains the particle alignment.