Molecular self-assembly is the spontaneous association of molecules under equilibrium conditions into stable, structurally well-defined aggregates joined by noncovalent bonds. Molecular self-assembly is ubiquitous in biological systems and underlies the formation of a wide variety of complex biological structures. Understanding self-assembly and the associated noncovalent interactions that connect complementary interacting molecular surfaces in biological aggregates is a central concern in structural biochemistry. Self-assembly is also emerging as a new strategy in chemical synthesis, with the potential of generating nonbiological structures with dimensions of 1 to 10(2) nanometers (with molecular weights of 10(4) to 10(10) daltons). Structures in the upper part of this range of sizes are presently inaccessible through chemical synthesis, and the ability to prepare them would open a route to structures comparable in size (and perhaps complementary in function) to those that can be prepared by microlithography and other techniques of microfabrication.

Molecular self-assembly and nanochemistry: A chemical strategy for the synthesis of nanostructures

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New approaches to nanofabrication: molding, printing, and other techniques.

In Vitro Cytotoxicity of Nanoparticles in Mammalian Germline Stem Cells

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/90/5/1635.full.pdf

Supramolecular chemistry.

Phthalocyanines: old dyes, new materials. Putting color in nanotechnology

The adsorption and the two-dimensional (2D) ordering of chloro[subphthalocyaninato]boron(III) (SubPc) on Ag(111) has been studied in detail by combined scanning tunneling microscopy and photoelectron spectroscopy at room temperature. SubPc is a polar, highly symmetric molecule, consisting of an extended aromatic system and a central B-Cl bond. When growing on Ag(111) an interesting phase behavior is observed for the first molecular layer of SubPc. At low coverage, below $\ensuremath{\approx}0.2$ monolayer (ML), a 2D lattice gas is present, whereas at medium coverage (on the order of 0.2--0.5 ML), 2D condensed molecular islands are observed in coexistence with the 2D lattice gas. In these condensed islands, the molecules assemble into a well-ordered honeycomb pattern. At higher coverage (approximately 0.5--0.9 ML) the molecules organize into a 2D hexagonal close-packed (hcp) pattern, in equilibrium with a dense 2D gas phase. In the honeycomb and in the hcp pattern, individual molecules are imaged with submolecular resolution, giving information on their orientation. For both the honeycomb and hcp patterns, islands with two different orientations of the superstructures with respect to the Ag(111) substrate are observed. In case of the honeycomb pattern, the two superstructures are enantiomorphic. The chirality of these layers originates in the loss of the symmetry of the metal surface upon adsorption of SubPc, while the molecules alone are intrinsically achiral. Based on different photoelectron spectroscopy experiments we conclude that the SubPc molecule is adsorbed on Ag(111) with its Cl atom towards the substrate and that the molecule remains intact. Finally, several aspects of the observed 2D condensed phases and the thermodynamic phase behavior are discussed with respect to the charge distribution and the adsorption physics and chemistry of the SubPc molecules.

/pdf/adsorption-and-two-dimensional-phases-of-a-large-polar-1u2pfazqqc.pdf

Adsorption and two-dimensional phases of a large polar molecule: Sub-phthalocyanine on Ag(111)

A BSTRACT : In this review the emerging science of single molecules is discussed in the perspective of nanoscale molecular functions and devices. New methods for the controlled assembly of well-defined molecular nanostructures are presented: self assembly and single molecular positioning. The observation and selective modification of conformation, electronics, and molecular mechanics of individual molecules and molecular assemblies by scanning probes is demonstrated. To complement this scientific review, some of the possible consequences and visions for future developments are discussed, as far as they derive from the presented systems. The prospects of nanoscale science to stimulate technological evolution are exemplified. K EYWORDS : molecular self-assembly; conformational switch; molecular adsorption; molecular nanotechnology from the bottom-up

/pdf/molecular-assembly-and-self-assembly-molecular-nanoscience-2cmy938h3u.pdf

M. de Wild

Papers

Adsorption and two-dimensional phases of a large polar molecule: Sub-phthalocyanine on Ag(111)

Molecular assembly and self-assembly: molecular nanoscience for future technologies.