Beyond molecules: Self-assembly of mesoscopic and macroscopic components

Self-assembly is a process in which components, either separate or linked, spontaneously form ordered aggregates. Self-assembly can occur with components having sizes from the molecular to the macroscopic, provided that appropriate conditions are met. Although much of the work in self-assembly has focused on molecular components, many of the most interesting applications of self-assembling processes can be found at larger sizes (nanometers to micrometers). These larger systems also offer a level of control over the characteristics of the components and over the interactions among them that makes fundamental investigations especially tractable.

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 9901358, 0101432
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy
• DA
  Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
• AR
  Advanced Research Projects Agency
• OO
  Office of Naval Research
• DO
  Division of Chemistry