What are the most common materials used for self-assembly?

1 Molecular self-assembly

Molecules are the basic building blocks of self-assembly. They can interact with each other through various forces, such as hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic interactions. These forces can drive the molecules to form ordered structures, such as crystals, micelles, vesicles, or supramolecular polymers. Molecular self-assembly can be controlled by changing the chemical composition, shape, size, and functionality of the molecules, as well as the environmental conditions, such as temperature, pH, and solvent.

2 Colloidal self-assembly

Colloids are particles that are dispersed in a medium, such as water or air. They can range in size from nanometers to micrometers, and can have different shapes, such as spheres, rods, or plates. Colloids can self-assemble into complex and diverse structures, such as crystals, clusters, or gels, depending on their interactions with each other and the medium. Colloidal self-assembly can be influenced by factors such as surface charge, magnetic or electric fields, light, or mechanical forces.

3 Biomolecular self-assembly

Biomolecules are molecules that are involved in biological processes, such as DNA, RNA, proteins, or lipids. They can self-assemble into functional and dynamic structures, such as membranes, organelles, viruses, or nanomachines. Biomolecular self-assembly can be regulated by molecular recognition, conformational changes, or enzymatic reactions. Biomolecular self-assembly can be used to mimic natural systems, such as cell membranes, or to create artificial systems, such as DNA origami or protein cages.

4 Polymer self-assembly

Polymers are long chains of repeating units, such as ethylene or styrene. They can self-assemble into various morphologies, such as spheres, cylinders, or lamellae, depending on their molecular structure, composition, and architecture. Polymer self-assembly can be modulated by parameters such as temperature, solvent, or shear. Polymer self-assembly can be used to generate porous materials, nanocomposites, or stimuli-responsive materials.

5 Nanoparticle self-assembly

Nanoparticles are particles that have at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nanometers. They can have different compositions, such as metals, semiconductors, or oxides, and different shapes, such as spheres, cubes, or wires. Nanoparticles can self-assemble into ordered arrays, such as superlattices, or disordered aggregates, such as fractals, depending on their surface properties, such as charge, ligands, or coatings. Nanoparticle self-assembly can be tuned by factors such as concentration, temperature, or external fields. Nanoparticle self-assembly can be used to create plasmonic, magnetic, or catalytic materials.

6 Hybrid self-assembly

Hybrid self-assembly is a process in which two or more types of materials are combined to form hierarchical and multifunctional structures. For example, molecules, colloids, biomolecules, polymers, and nanoparticles can be mixed, coated, or linked together to create hybrid materials with enhanced or novel properties. Hybrid self-assembly can be achieved by exploiting the complementary interactions, such as covalent bonding, electrostatic attraction, or biotin-streptavidin binding, between different materials. Hybrid self-assembly can be used to create smart materials, such as biosensors, drug delivery systems, or nanoelectronics.

7 Here’s what else to consider

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