Precise directed assembly of nanoparticles for electronic, optical and biomedical applications

Abstract

Assembly of nano building blocks offers a versatile route to the creation of complex 1, 2 and 3-dimensional homogenous or hybrid nanostructures with unique properties to be used in many applications including electronics, optics, energy, and biotechnology. Bottom-up directed assembly of nanoparticles has been recently considered as one of the best approaches to manufacture such functional and novel nanostructures. However, current directed assembly techniques have not been shown to make nanostructures homogeneous or hybrid materials with nanoscale precision at a high yield. This is mainly due to the lack of fundamental understanding of the forces driving the assembly of nanoparticles into organized nanostructures on surfaces and the difficulties in precisely controlling these forces to enable the repeatable and reliable assembly of various types of organic or inorganic nanoparticles.