Self-assembly as a key player for materials nanoarchitectonics

Abstract

The development of science and technology of advanced materials using nanoscale units can be conducted by a novel concept involving combination of nanotechnology methodology with various research disciplines, especially supramolecular chemistry. The novel concept is called 'nanoarchitectonics' where self-assembly processes are crucial in many cases involving a wide range of component materials. This review of self-assembly processes reexamines recent progress in materials nanoarchitectonics. It is composed of three main sections: (1) the first short section describes typical examples of self-assembly research to outline the matters discussed in this review; (2) the second section summarizes self-assemblies at interfaces from general viewpoints; and (3) the final section is focused on self-assembly processes at interfaces. The examples presented demonstrate the strikingly wide range of possibilities and future potential of self-assembly processes and their important contribution to materials nanoarchitectonics. The research examples described in this review cover variously structured objects including molecular machines, molecular receptors, molecular pliers, molecular rotors, nanoparticles, nanosheets, nanotubes, nanowires, nanoflakes, nanocubes, nanodisks, nanoring, block copolymers, hyperbranched polymers, supramolecular polymers, supramolecular gels, liquid crystals, Langmuir monolayers, Langmuir-Blodgett films, self-assembled monolayers, thin films, layer-by-layer structures, breath figure motif structures, two-dimensional molecular patterns, fullerene crystals, metal-organic frameworks, coordination polymers, coordination capsules, porous carbon spheres, mesoporous materials, polynuclear catalysts, DNA origamis, transmembrane channels, peptide conjugates, and vesicles, as well as functional materials for sensing, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, photovoltaics, charge transport, excitation energy transfer, lightharvesting, photocatalysts, field effect transistors, logic gates, organic semiconductors, thin-film-based devices, drug delivery, cell culture, supramolecular differentiation, molecular recognition, molecular tuning, and hand-operating (hand-operated) nanotechnology.

Water‐Processable, Stretchable, Self‐Healable, Thermally Stable, and Transparent Ionic Conductors for Actuators and Sensors

“…Stretchable electronics have received immense interests for the applications in biocompatible, wearable, and conformable devices . In these applications, stretchable conductors with intrinsic adhesion, toughness, and mechanical compliances play a critical role to facilitate the device constructions, in place of the commonly used materials such as metallic thin films (gold (Au), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu)) .…”

Self-assembly of small molecules at hydrophobic interfaces using group effect

“…This indicates weakly bound structures compared to the basic water-methanol motif. When dissolved in water, Na 2 HPO 4 disassociates into sodium (Na + ) and phosphate (HPO 4 2− and H 2 PO 4 − ) ions, the latter being able to form multiple hydrogen bonds. Here the fine structures observed suggest phosphate ions to have been incorporated within the methanol-water assembly.…”

Modular Assembly of Host–Guest Metal–Phenolic Networks Using Macrocyclic Building Blocks

“…Thehigh permeability (regardless of the nature of the solute,t hat is,h ydrophilic dextran, hydrophobic PS,hydrophobic/hydrophilic PMMA, and EDTA/Ca 2+ complex), the specific host-guest interactions (guest molecules including phenolphthalein, C 60 ,A Ds), and the tunable wettability exhibited by the host MPNs have significant implications for the engineering of advanced materials for various applications,f or example,b uilding nanopores, [20] macroscopic switches, [21] superstructures, [22] host-directed therapy, [23] and bioresponsive materials, [24] and should expedite advances in other coordination-based assemblies. [25]…”