Work

Beyond molecules: Self-assembly of mesoscopic and macroscopic components

Year: 2002

Type: article

Abstract: 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.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.082065899

Authors: George M. Whitesides, Mila Boncheva

Institution: Harvard University

Language: English

Topic: Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green