Central to our bottom-up vision for nanoscale science and technology is a focus on the science underlying the development of scalable strategies that can organize nanoscale building blocks on multiple length scales independent of the specific composition and structure of the building blocks. We are pursuing this general goal of hierarchical assembly, as well as investigating approaches for interconnecting structures at different length scales without high-resolution lithography, through studies in several interrelated areas.

• Assembly with fluids. We have previously demonstrated and continue to develop scalable assembly methods that exploit our ability to physically-manipulate nanowires in fluid solutions. Currently, there is an active effort focused on the development and application of the Langmuir-Blodgett approach for hierarchically organizing nanowires en masse into integrated arrays tiled over large areas. Efforts and interest are focused on multi-scale organization and interconnection of parallel, crossed and more complex arrays using increasing complex and distinct nanowire building blocks, with particular emphasis on defining the underlying science of organization.
• Chemically-driven assembly. We are also actively pursuing methods exploiting complementary and highly selective chemical interactions to drive the rational assembly nanowire building blocks in two- and three-dimensional arrays and architectures. Specific projects include those focused on using either molecular or polymeric functionalization of nanowires to introduce chemical selectivity required for rational organization
• Biologically-driven assembly. We are currently interested in exploiting diversity and high selectivity in biological interactions to drive assembly of nanoscale building blocks into two- and three-dimensional arrays and architectures. Particular emphasis is being placed on protein-protein based interactions and the reversible and irreversible manipulation of these interactions using small organic molecules.

  

[back to top]