Nanostructure Assembly

Source – This post on Nanostructure Assembly is based on the article “Control over Assembling Nanostructures can help Create New Materials useful for Biomedicine, Electronics” published in PIB on 28th September 2024.

Why in News?

Researchers from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru explored the nanostructure assembly behaviour.

What is Supramolecular Self-Assembly?

1) Definition: Supramolecular self-assembly is a process where molecules spontaneously organize into larger, well-defined structures without external guidance.

2) Significance: The research showcases how different assembly techniques can guide nanostructure formation, offering the possibility to create materials with desired functionalities.

3) Applications:

Electronics: They are crucial for developing smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient electronic devices, such as transistors and memory devices.

Medical Applications: They are used in drug delivery, imaging, and diagnostics due to their ability to interact with biological systems at the molecular level.

What is Nanostructure Assembly?

Nanostructure assembly refers to the process of organizing individual nanoscale components—such as atoms, molecules, or nanoparticles—into well-defined, functional structures or patterns.

These assemblies typically range in size from 1 to 100 nanometers and are fundamental to developing new materials and technologies in nanotechnology.

Two Assembly Methods Investigated:

1) Solution Phase Assembly: Molecules were assembled in liquid solutions, resulting in spherical nanoparticles with unique optical properties, such as strong mirror-imaged circular dichroism (CD) signals which are crucial for light-interactive materials.

2) Air-Water Interface Assembly: Molecules assembled at the air-water boundary formed flat, two-dimensional layers with irregular edges, but without the optical properties seen in solution-phase nanoparticles. This demonstrated the critical role of the assembly environment in determining the final structure and characteristics.

UPSC Syllabus: Science and technology