Constructing Large 2D Lattices Out of DNA-Tiles

The predictable nature of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) interactions enables assembly of DNA into almost any arbitrary shape with programmable features of nanometer precision. The recent progress of DNA nanotechnology has allowed production of an even wider gamut of possible shapes with high-yield and error-free assembly processes. Most of these structures are, however, limited in size to a nanometer scale. To overcome this limitation, a plethora of studies has been carried out to form larger structures using DNA assemblies as building blocks or tiles. Therefore, DNA tiles have become one of the most widely used building blocks for engineering large, intricate structures with nanometer precision. To create even larger assemblies with highly organized patterns, scientists have developed a variety of structural design principles and assembly methods. This review first summarizes currently available DNA tile toolboxes and the basic principles of lattice formation and hierarchical self-assembly using DNA tiles. Special emphasis is given to the forces involved in the assembly process in liquid-liquid and at solid-liquid interfaces, and how to master them to reach the optimum balance between the involved interactions for successful self-assembly. In addition, we focus on the recent approaches that have shown great potential for the controlled immobilization and positioning of DNA nanostructures on different surfaces. The ability to position DNA objects in a controllable manner on technologically relevant surfaces is one step forward towards the integration of DNA-based materials into nanoelectronic and sensor devices.     

Dynamic behaviors of molecular assemblies at liquid/liquid interfaces studied by time-resolved quasi-elastic laser scattering spectroscopy.

The dynamic behaviors of molecular assemblies at two immiscible liquid interfaces are intriguing topics in many fields of science and technology. However, it is generally difficult to investigate the dynamic behaviors of such molecular assemblies because of the buried nature of liquid/liquid interfaces. In the present paper, our recent investigations on dynamic behaviors of various molecular self-assemblies at liquid/liquid interfaces are reviewed. We monitored dynamic behaviors of the molecular assemblies by time-resolved quasi-elastic laser scattering (TR-QELS) and fluorescent spectroscopy. The former method allows us to monitor the change in interfacial tension with millisecond time-resolution. As molecular assemblies, bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) microemulsion, phospholipid biomembrane models, and liposome-DNA complexes have all been studied, since they are relevant in material sciences and biological technologies. At liquid/liquid interfaces, these molecular assemblies showed characteristic behaviors. We review the finding of rebound response of the interfacial tension at the liquid/liquid interface induced by the adsorption of the AOT microemulsion. We monitored the hydrolysis reaction of phospholipid biomembrane models formed at oil/water interfaces, observing the different types of behavior of liposome-DNA complexes at biomembrane models with different kinds of phospholipids.     

Supramolecular colloidal motors via chemical self-assembly

A colloidal motor can convert energy stored in the environment to achieve mechanical motion and exhibit dynamic behaviors in fluids. To overcome the challenges presented to a colloidal motor, controlled molecular self-assembly technology provides new opportunities for the precise fabrication of various nanoarchitectures and facilitates fundamental research on rational design, multifunctionalization, propulsion, and controlled movement of colloidal motors. These molecular assembled colloidal motors, also called supramolecular colloidal motors, can perform special tasks at the micro- and nanoscale in the fields of biomedicine, nanotechnology, and environmental remediation. In this feature article, we first introduce the recent progress of controllable self-assembly of spatially asymmetric supramolecular colloidal motors with variable sizes, structures, and functions and discuss the relationship between structure and propulsion. Next, we review the research progress of this type of colloidal motors in biomedical and environmental fields. Finally, we propose the challenges of the supramolecular colloidal motors and future development direction.     

Liquid interfacial nanoarchitectonics: Molecular machines,organic semiconductors,nanocarbons, stem cells,and others

The concept of nanoarchitectonics has been proposed as an extensional development of nanotechnology through fusions with material science and the other fields. In nanoarchitectonics, nano-units of atoms, molecules, and nanomaterials are architected into construction of functional material systems. In order to assemble intended structures or hierarchical structures from nano-units, it is more useful to confine nano-units at the interface. In addition, nanoarchitectonics is expected to output functions by harmonizing many units in dynamic environments. However, the liquid interfaces still have lots of unexplored matters in nanoscale because supports by advanced apparatus and techniques in nanotechnology are not always available. Specifically, this review paper summarizes examples of research on molecular manipulation, molecular arrangement and assembly, materials synthesis, and life manipulation at the liquid interface. These examples demonstrate that the liquid interface enables the control of dynamic functions of various size regions, from molecular-level phenomena such as the control of molecular machines to techniques of living creature size such as the control of stem cell differentiation. Liquid interfaces are very useful environments for controlling dynamic functions for a wide range of targets and would have tremendous potential in terms of functional exploration. The great potential of nanoarchitectonics at the liquid interface and the challenges to be solved in the future are also discussed.     

Self-assembled nanostructures of oligopyridine molecules

The high potential of self-assembly processes of molecular building blocks is reflected in the vast variety of different functional nanostructures reported in the literature. The constituting units must fulfill several requirements like synthetic accessibility, presence of functional groups for appropriate intermolecular interactions and depending on the type of self-assembly processsignificant chemical and thermal stability. It is shown that oligopyridines are versatile building blocks for two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) self-assembly. They can be employed for building up different architectures like gridlike metal complexes in solution. By the appropriate tailoring of the heterocycles, further metal coordinating and/or hydrogen bonding capabilities to the heteroaromatic molecules can be added. Thus, the above-mentioned architectures can be extended in one-step processes to larger entities, or in a hierarchical fashion to infinite assemblies in the solid state, respectively. Besides the organizational properties of small molecules in solution, 2D assemblies on surfaces offer certain advantages over 3D arrays. By precise tailoring of the molecular structures, the intermolecular interactions can be fine-tuned expressed by a large variety of resulting 2D patterns. Oligopyridines prove to be ideal candidates for 2D assemblies on graphite and metal sufaces, respectively, expressing highly ordered structures. A slight structural variation in the periphery of the molecules leads to strongly changed 2D packing motifs based on weak hydrogen bonding interactions. Such 2D assemblies can be exploited for building up host-guest networks which are attractive candidates for manipulation experiments on the single-molecule level. Thus, "erasing" and "writing" processes by the scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) tip at the liquid/solid interface are shown. The 2D networks are also employed for performing coordination chemistry experiments at surfaces.     

Programmed hyperhelical supramolecular assembly of nickel phthalocyanine bearing enantiopure 1-(p-tolyl)ethylaminocarbonyl groups

The present paper reports uniqueness of a simple, programmed design of disk-shaped homochiral nickel phthalocyanine (Pc) molecules bearing four enantiomerically pure 1-(p-tolyl)ethylaminocarbonyl groups at their peripheral positions, (Pc-(R) and Pc-(S)), and their controlled self-organization into mesoscopic supramolecular helical fibers with a preferential handedness in solution and onto solid surfaces. A combination of four fundamental intermolecular interactions, including quadruple hydrogen bonding, pi-pi stacking, homochiral interactions of the enantiopure bulky aralkyl entities, and noncoordinating nature of nickel ion of the Pc molecules afforded a high thermal stability of the Pc self-assembly in chloroform (CHCl(3)), tetrahydrofuran, and o-dichlorobenzene and onto hydrophilic mica and hydrophobic HOPG surfaces. A higher-ordered helical self-assembly of Pc disks was observed in these solutions (approximately 200 Pc molecules), while the self-assembly was completely dissociated into monomeric species in N,N-dimethylformamide due to a loss of hydrogen-bonding interactions between Pc molecules. Supramolecular chirality in the hierarchical self-assembly of Pc molecules originated from the presence of (R)- or (S)-chiral centers in the peripheral tails, which rotate noncovalently linked molecular building blocks to effectively form the helical architectures. The helical Pc nanofibers dissolved in CHCl(3), estimated to be ca. 70 nm from peak molecular weight obtained by SEC analysis, acts as a building block for higher-order helical fibers (ca. 1 microm) at single molecular level on the solid surfaces, as demonstrated by the dynamic force mode atomic force microscopy. Regardless of hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates, the interaction between these Pc molecules and the solid surfaces could not affect the morphology of helical assemblies, indicating a unique robustness of these assemblies.     

Scanning tunneling microscopy of functional nanostructures on solid surfaces: Manipulation,self-assembly,and applications

The manipulation, self-assembly, and application of functional nanostructures on solid surfaces are fundamental issues for the development of electronics and optoelectronics. For a future molecular electronics the fabrication of high-quality organic thin films on metal surfaces is crucial, which can be achieved by thermal evaporation for various organic/metal systems. The switching property of single molecules can be manipulated and measured, revealing a possibility to realize single molecular devices. Manipulation of a local conductance transition in organic thin films, used for ultra-high density data storage, has also been achieved based on several different mechanisms. The stability, reversibility, and repeatability of the local conductance transition have been improved by molecular design. In this article, we will summarize our recent scanning tunneling microscopy studies on these issues and discuss their perspectives.     

表面分子纳米结构构筑的分子工程学

以分子工程学的基本思想为指导,基于对表面分子自组装过程基本原理及规律的深入理解,以功能为导向开展表界面分子纳米结构的定向设计与构筑,发展其在分子器件、单分子科学等领域的应用,是纳米科学与技术研究的一个重要方向。本文结合近年来国内外的工作,概述了表面分子工程学中的研究进展,展望了该领域的研究方向。     

Self‐Assembled Monolayers into the 21st Century: Recent Advances and Applications

The modification of an interface on a molecular level with more than one molecular ‘building block' is essentially an example of the ‘bottom–up' fabrication principle of nanotechnology. The fabrication of such integrated molecular systems in electrochemistry has seen rapid progress in recent years via the development of sensing interfaces fabricated using self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs). This review outlines recent advances and applications of self‐assembled monolayers for modifying electrodes with an emphasis on the development of integrated molecular systems. First, some basic issues regarding fabricating integrated molecular systems, such as the role of the surface topography of the electrode and patterning surfaces, are discussed. Subsequently an overview of recent developments in pH, inorganic and bio sensing involving the use of SAMs is given. Finally emerging trends in using molecular building blocks in the fabrication of integrated molecular systems, such as nanotubes, dendrimers and nanoparticles, are reviewed.     

金属配合物分子纳米结构构筑与调控的STM研究进展

金属配合物分子具有结构多样且可控以及功能丰富等特点,在催化、传感、分子识别、纳米器件等领域得到广泛应用, 对金属配合物分子的研究已是分子科学研究中的热点之一.同时, 利用配合物分子构筑表面分子纳米结构以及对配合物单分子性质的研究也日趋活跃. 近年来, 本研究组发展了配合物分子在固体表面的自组装技术, 并结合扫描隧道显微技术(STM)开展了一系列有关金属配合物分子表面纳米结构的研究工作, 在固体表面成功实现了对配体、配合物分子的高分辨STM成像、原位配合以及分子识别, 设计和构筑了多种功能配合物分子纳米结构,并系统研究了结构形成规律. 本文以本研究组近年来有关金属配合物分子组装的研究结果为主, 结合国内外相关研究小组的研究结果,综述有关金属配合物分子纳米结构的构筑与调控的STM研究进展, 介绍该类分子在固体表面的组装和分散规律, 为表面分子纳米结构的构筑和调控提供理论和实验基础.     

Properties of large organic molecules on metal surfaces

The adsorption of large organic molecules on surfaces has recently been the subject of intensive investigation, both because of the molecules’ intrinsic physical and chemical properties, and for prospective applications in the emerging field of nanotechnology. Certain complex molecules are considered good candidates as basic building blocks for molecular electronics and nanomechanical devices. In general, molecular ordering on a surface is controlled by a delicate balance between intermolecular forces and molecule–substrate interactions. Under certain conditions, these interactions can be controlled to some extent, and sometimes even tuned by the appropriate choice of substrate material and symmetry. Several studies have indicated that, upon molecular adsorption, surfaces do not always behave as static templates, but may rearrange dramatically to accommodate different molecular species. In this context, it has been demonstrated that the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) is a very powerful tool for exploring the atomic-scale realm of surfaces, and for investigating adsorbate–surface interactions. By means of high-resolution, fast-scanning STM unprecedented new insight was recently achieved into a number of fundamental processes related to the interaction of largish molecules with surfaces such as molecular diffusion, bonding of adsorbates on surfaces, and molecular self-assembly. In addition to the normal imaging mode, the STM tip can also be employed to manipulate single atoms and molecules in a bottom–up fashion, collectively or one at a time. In this way, molecule-induced surface restructuring processes can be revealed directly and nanostructures can be engineered with atomic precision to study surface quantum phenomena of fundamental interest. Here we will present a short review of some recent results, several of which were obtained by our group, in which several features of the complex interaction between large organic molecules and metal surfaces were revealed. The focus is on experiments performed using STM and other complementary surface-sensitive techniques.     

Oil-water interfacial self-assembly: a novel strategy for nanofilm and nanodevice fabrication

How to integrate individual nanostructures into macroscopic thin films has become one of the most intriguing fields in nanoscience and nanotechnology due to the unique properties and important applications of these functional films. Since being discovered in 2004, oil-water interfacial self-assembly of nanostructures has become a novel strategy for fabrication of nanofilms. It is a powerful bottom-up approach for film fabrication due to the low cost and high efficiency, and is simple and universal for almost all low-dimensional nanostructures. In this article, we provide a critical review of the state-of-the-art research activities in this burgeoning self-assembly strategy. We first discuss the thermodynamic mechanism of the oil-water interfacial self-assembly, then the self-assembly of various low-dimensional nanostructures including nanoparticles, one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures, two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures at an oil-water interface developed so far to fabricate high-quality nanofilms. Finally, we present some progress on the construction of functional nanofilm-based nanodevices from this novel strategy based on our research. We conclude this review with critical comments on advantages and the experimental challenges, and further propose the future research and development of this self-assembly strategy for nanodevice construction (105 references).     

枝状分子表面组装结构的形成与结构转变

本文是对近期有关枝状分子在石墨表面吸附组装研究的综述.利用扫描隧道显微技术,系统研究了5-甲氧基间苯二酸类枝状分子在石墨表面组装结构的形成及结构转变,发现虽然该类枝状分子大都可以在石墨表面自发有序组装,但是最终形成的组装结构不仅与分子本身结构例如烷基链的数目有关,与分子浓度有关,还与所用溶剂有关.分子浓度和溶剂的变化,影响组装体系内的相互作用力如分子与基底间的作用力、分子间氢键的作用力等,影响分子迁移和结构转变的动力学过程,从而影响枝状分子组装的最终结构.研究揭示了特定体系中枝状分子组装结构与分子浓度、所用溶剂的定量和定性关系.研究结果有助于认识和掌握枝状分子组装规律,进而可以通过改变相关技术参数,调控得到不同的枝状分子表面组装体,为实现可控构筑分子表面组装结构提供了新的思路.     

Foam films as instrumentation in the study of amphiphile self-assembly

A survey on recent experimental investigations of microscopic foam films containing self-assembled amphiphilic structures is presented. A specific advantage of the microscopic film techniques is that the fine control of system parameters allows the estimation of the consecutive changes of film properties for low surfactant content and extremely small concentration changes. This gives a unique possibility to reach amphiphile quantities when initial onset of self-assembly is to be observed. The film characteristics are investigated via microinterferometric method, which operates with the measuring cell of Scheludko-Exerowa. The experimental set is additionally improved by including video-recording and consecutive image analysis. The results show the following: (1) Unstable black patterns (dots and spots) are observed; they have very short lifetimes and the films, which contain them rupture quickly. (2) Several of the kinetic characteristics of the films display a sharp change within a narrow surfactant concentration range. The experiments are interpreted on the basis of the assumption that a series of smaller self-assembled aggregates (premicelles) with various geometries exist at the interfaces and inside the thin film. The proposed theoretical scheme puts forward a mechanism connecting the formation of unstable black patterns (dots and spots) with the reorganization and destruction of the existing surfactant assemblies both in the bulk of the film and on the interfaces. The results suggest that the observed unstable black formations may serve as indicators for the presence of surfactant structures in amphiphilic solutions and the microscopic foam-film techniques has a serious potential as a prospective instrumentation in the study of amphiphilic self-assemblies.     

Stimuli-Responsive DNA Self-Assembly: From Principles to Applications

Stimuli-responsive DNA self-assembly shares the advantages of both designed stimuli-responsiveness and the molecular programmability of DNA structures, offering great opportunities for basic and applied research in dynamic DNA nanotechnology. In this minireview, we summarize the most recent progress in this rapidly developing field. The trigger mechanisms of the responsive DNA systems are first divided into six categories, which are then explained with illustrative examples following this classification. Subsequently, proof-of-concept applications in terms of biosensing, in vivo pH-mapping, drug delivery, and therapy are discussed. Finally, we provide some remarks on the challenges and opportunities of this highly promising research direction in DNA nanotechnology.     

Janus and patchy colloids at fluid interfaces

Understanding the fundamental behavior of chemically anisotropic Janus and patchy particles at fluid interfaces enables utilization of these colloids as solid surfactants for stabilization of emulsions and as building blocks for fabrication of functional and responsive materials. Here, we review recent progress on understanding the combined effects of particle–interface and particle–particle interactions on the surface activity and organization of Janus and patchy particles at fluid interfaces. We also highlight recent developments that harness these fundamental properties for applications in self-assembly and emulsion stabilization, and discuss some of the outstanding questions that warrant future investigation. The progress in the field opens new opportunities to pursue techniques for controlling interfacial rheology, directed motion, and the formulation of novel soft materials.     

Thin films of discotic liquid crystals and their applications

ABSTRACT

Discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) are considered as fascinating systems due to their unique property of self-assembly to yield different columnar structures. DLCs are organic semiconductors and create pathways for the development of numerous optical and electrical devices. The thin films of DLCs can be considered as low dimensional system which can exhibit remarkable optical and physical properties. In this article, we present a review on ultrathin films of some interesting DLC molecules at air–water and air–solid interfaces. The Langmuir monolayer and Langmuir–Blodgett films of DLC molecules are extensively studied. The ultrathin films of DLC molecules can yield highly anisotropic layer wherein the molecular orientation and aggregation can have large impact on the physicochemical properties of the film. Different surface phases with different molecular orientations as function of surface density and temperature can be obtained by forming the Langmuir monolayer of the DLC molecules at the air–water interface. The Langmuir monolayer in a particular phase can be deposited onto the active area of a device layer-by-layer by employing a highly controlled Langmuir–Blodgett technique. Here, we report some interesting results related on molecular orientation of the DLC molecules at different interfaces. Such aggregation of DLC molecules in ultrathin films may find applications in thin film-based electro-optical devices.     

Recent advances in colloidal and interfacial phenomena involving liquid crystals

This feature article describes recent advances in several areas of research involving the interfacial ordering of liquid crystals (LCs). The first advance revolves around the ordering of LCs at bio/chemically functionalized surfaces. Whereas the majority of past studies of surface-induced ordering of LCs have involved surfaces of solids that present a limited diversity of chemical functional groups (surfaces at which van der Waals forces dominate surface-induced ordering), recent studies have moved to investigate the ordering of LCs on chemically complex surfaces. For example, surfaces decorated with biomolecules (e.g., oligopeptides and proteins) and transition-metal ions have been investigated, leading to an understanding of the roles that metal-ligand coordination interactions, electrical double layers, acid-base interactions, and hydrogen bonding can play in the interfacial ordering of LCs. The opportunity to create chemically responsive LCs capable of undergoing ordering transitions in the presence of targeted molecular events (e.g., ligand exchange around a metal center) has emerged from these fundamental studies. A second advance has focused on investigations of the ordering of LCs at interfaces with immiscible isotropic fluids, particularly water. In contrast to prior studies of surface-induced ordering of LCs on solid surfaces, LC-aqueous interfaces are deformable and molecules at these interfaces exhibit high levels of mobility and thus can reorganize in response to changes in the interfacial environment. A range of fundamental investigations involving these LC-aqueous interfaces have revealed that (i) the spatial and temporal characteristics of assemblies formed from biomolecular interactions can be reported by surface-driven ordering transitions in the LCs, (ii) the interfacial phase behavior of molecules and colloids can be coupled to (and manipulated via) the ordering (and nematic elasticity) of LCs, and (iii) the confinement of LCs leads to unanticipated size-dependent ordering (particularly in the context of LC emulsion droplets). The third and final advance addressed in this article involves interactions between colloids mediated by LCs. Recent experiments involving microparticles deposited at the LC-aqueous interface have revealed that LC-mediated interactions can drive interfacial assemblies of particles through reversible ordering transitions (e.g., from 1D chains to 2D arrays with local hexagonal symmetry). In addition, recent single-nanoparticle measurements suggest that the ordering of LCs about nanoparticles differs substantially from micrometer-sized particles and that the interactions between nanoparticles mediated by the LCs are far weaker than predicted by theory (sufficiently weak that the interactions are reversible and thus enable self-assembly). Finally, LC-mediated interactions between colloidal particles have also been shown to lead to the formation of colloid-in-LC gels that possess mechanical properties relevant to the design of materials that interface with living biological systems. Overall, these three topics serve to illustrate the broad opportunities that exist to do fundamental interfacial science and discovery-oriented research involving LCs.     

Precise and Controllable Assembly of Block Copolymers†

With the development of nanotechnology, the precise synthesis of nanoparticles with nicely-defined dimensions and structures has been well-developed, and the functionalization and subsequent applications of the resultant nanostructures are becoming increasingly important. Comparing to inorganic nanoparticles, the nanostructures based on soft matters, especially block copolymer assemblies, are much lower in cost, easier to fabricate and richer in morphology. However, the dimensional control over the block copolymer assemblies is not as easy. Only in recent decade, with the discovery of living Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly (CDSA) by Manners and Winnik, researchers become able to precisely tune the sizes of block copolymer assemblies in a relatively wide range. This discovery has inspired tremendous research effort in the self-assembly field, and considerable progress has been made recently. This review summarizes the main progress in the precise and controllable self-assembly field in the past five years, and is mostly focused on four aspects, including in-depth understanding of the assembly methods, extension of this method to two-dimensional nanostructures, utilization of this method to fabricate hierarchical structures, and the potential applications of these well-defined nanostructures. We hope not only to make a periodic systematic summary of previous studies, but also to provide some useful thinking for the future development of this field.