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 re-examines 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, light-harvesting, 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.

Keywords: 101 Self-assembly / Self-organized materials; 20 Organic and soft materials (colloids, liquid crystals, gel, polymers); Nanoarchitectonics; interface; nanomaterial; self-assembly.

Graphical abstract

Figure 1.

Outline of nanoarchitectonics concept: organization of nanoscale unit to functional materials and systems with some unavoidable uncertainties balanced harmonization of various factors.

Figure 2.

Outline of self-assemblies described in this review with various components, sizes, dimensions, working media, and modes that can be summarized into story flow of this review article.

Figure 3.

Self-assembled molecular complex where photoinduced charge separation is achieved through fluoride-ion binding.

Figure 4.

Pyrazinacene nanotube formed with a pentacene derivative,6,13-bis(1-n-dodecyl)-[a,c,l,n]-tetrabenzo-5,6,7,12,13,14-hexaazapentacene as a molecular unit.

Figure 5.

Transmembrane chloride channel formed through self-assembly of small-molecule fumaramides.

Figure 6.

Stacked p–n heterojunction arrays of nanowires of nanosized acceptor/donor domains formed through self-assembly of structure-designed block copolymers.

Figure 7.

Synthesis of polymer fractal nanostructures upon controls of polymerization and self-assembly kinetics in solution media.

Figure 8.

Two-dimensional nanoweb structure of gold prepared through web-like supramolecular self-assembly of surfactant followed by in situ reduction of the gold precursors.

Figure 9.

Sintering-resistant nanoparticle systems through confinement of catalytic Pt nanoparticles within compartments prepared with self-assembled silica nanostructures.

Figure 10.

Drug delivery systems controlled by DNA self-assembly and disassembly between MoS₂ nanosheets.

Figure 11.

N-Substituted oxoporphyrinogen unit for surface-anchored rotators and unusual maze-like monolayer.

Figure 12.

Growth of molecular nanowires of trigeminal amphiphile porphyrins on a mica surface.

Figure 13.

(a) Formation of breath figure motifs as hexagonally structured macroporous two-dimensional films by self-assembly of polymers from 1H,2H-dihyroperimidines derivatives. (b) Proposed mechanism for breath figure formation through water droplet condensation and evaporation.

Figure 14.

The liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation method for the production of shape-controlled fullerene crystalline self-assemblies.

Figure 15.

Self-assembly of C₇₀ cubes from one-dimensional nanorods with crystalline pore walls fabricated through step-wise processes.

Figure 16.

Hole-in-cube-type self-assembled C₇₀ crystals with properties of intentional closing/opening actions.

Figure 17.

Bio-like shape-shifting self-assembly, supramolecular differentiation, through two-step process interfacial self-assembly of mixed fullerene derivatives, pentakis(phenyl)fullerene and pentakis-(4-dodecylphenyl)fullerene.

Figure 18.

Binding constant for electrostatic hydrogen bond pair of guanidinium and phosphate (a) in water, (b) at the surface of aqueous micelles and lipid bilayers, (c) at the air–water interface.

Figure 19.

Difference of molecular orientations of π-gelator, oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) derivatives between entangled gel network fibres and one-dimensional nanorods formed at the air–water interface.

Figure 20.

Fabrication of regularly sized nanodisks of tri-n-dodecylmellitic triimide with macrocyclic oligoamine, 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane though self-assembly at the air–water interface and one-touch transfer onto a solid substrate.

Figure 21.

Supramolecular polymerization of the DNA origami pieces into one-dimensional upon two-dimensional mechanical stimulus motions.

Figure 22.

Synthesis of carbon nanosheets from anisotropic carbon nanoring by the vortex LB method.

Figure 23.

Specific aspects of dynamic interface, the air–water interface.

Figure 24.

Mechanical regulation of capture and release of a target guest molecule by a molecular machine, steroid cyclophane, self-assembled at the air–water interface.

Figure 25.

Mechanically controlled molecular recognition: (a) enantioselective recognition of amino acids by molecular receptor, octacoordinate Na⁺ complex of a cholesterol-substituted cyclen; (b) discrimination between uracil and thymine derivatives by cholesterol-substituted triazacyclononane.

Figure 26.

Modes for molecular recognition: (a) one stable state, (b) switching, (c) tuning.

Figure 27.

Fabrication of layer-controlled two-dimensional single crystals of organic semiconductor.

Figure 28.

Size scale of nanoarchitectonics is similar to size range where biomolecules as non-living chemical components are assembled into systems with living functionalities.