The objective of this research is to program self-assembly into nanoparticle building blocks. The approach is to break the symmetry of spherical nanoparticles by selectively patterning one hemisphere or less. Through subsequent chemical attachment of polymer chains to one of the two regions on the nanoparticle surface, the interaction between different nanoparticles can be precisely controlled. Factors such as polymer chain length, polymer side chain functionality and chemical crosslinking of the polymer chains can be varied to yield a desired arrangement.
The development of methods to manipulate nanoparticles and lock them into predefined structures provides new possibilities for designing and constructing objects and materials that have dimensions on the nanometer scale. In the past few years, it has become possible to synthesize a range of nanometer-sized particles with unusual electrical, optical, and magnetic properties. The gateway to the eventual success of nanoscience and nanotechnology will be the programmed assembly of such nanometer-sized building blocks into functional devices. The proposed research will develop new assembly methods for nanoparticles and will provide a sound scientific foundation for translating nanotechnology from the laboratory to practice.
