Self-Assembled Structures

Book excerpt: Self-assembly is a process in which a disordered system forms an organized structure without external direction. Examples include the formation of molecular crystals, lipid bilayers, and polymer brushes. This book reviews the fabrication and use of various self-assembled materials. In particular, the author pays special attention to self-assembled structures when in solution and in contact with surfaces, as such interactions can have a pronounced impact on their properties and applications. The text covers bulk solution and surfaces, assembled structures, colloid particles, polymer capsules, carbon nanotubes, as well as layer-by-layer assembly techniques.