Patchy particles are particles with precisely controlled dual or multiple surfaces of varying properties. Over the past decade, tremendous attentions have been paid on patchy particles due to their unique properties, anisotropic interactions and intriguing self-assembling behaviors. In this work, three molecular patchy particles based on precisely functionalized fullerenes (C60) were synthesized. Two of them contain ten amino groups on the surface of C60 but with different "patches", which are four hydroxyl groups (NC60-4OH) or two carboxylic acids groups (NC60-2COOH). Starting from C60, two mono-functionalized C60 derivatives containing two protected carboxylic acids (C60-2tBu) or four protected hydroxyl groups (C60-4pre-OH) were synthesized in the dilute solution of toluene under the typical condition of Bingel-Hirsch reactions. C60-2tBu and C60-4pre-OH were further functionalized with ten protected amino groups in concentrated solution of dichlrobenzene to give BNC60-4pre-OH and BNC60-2tBu with protected groups, respectively. The deprotection of BNC60-4pre-OH and BNC60-2tBu were achieved in the solution of trifluoroacetic acid/dichloromethane to afford the final products NC60-4OH and NC60-2COOH, respectively. Another patchy particle (AC60-2NH2), which contains ten carboxylic acid groups on the surface of C60 and two amino groups as a patch, was synthesized following the similar reaction. For these three patchy particles, the precisely defined structures of as-synthesized intermediates and final products were fully characterized by Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectra and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscope, including 1H NMR and 13C NMR. The self-assembly behavior of these patchy particles were investigated in different polar solvent such as THF, H2O, DMF. It was found that AC60-2NH2 could form vesicles in THF and tubes in H2O. Finally, different from commonly reported colloid patchy particles, whose sizes are in micrometer scale, the molecular patchy particles we synthesized are in nanometer scale and might provide a new perspective for the nanostructure formation of patchy particles.

In the past several decades, molecular self-assembly has emerged as one of the main themes in chemistry, biology, and materials science. This book compiles and details cutting-edge research in molecular assemblies ranging from self-organized peptide nanostructures and DNA-chromophore foldamers to supramolecular systems and metal-directed assemblies

This book describes techniques of synthesis and self-assembly of macromolecules for developing new materials and improving functionality of existing ones. Because self-assembly emulates how nature creates complex systems, they likely have the best chance at succeeding in real-world biomedical applications. • Employs synthetic chemistry, physical chemistry, and materials science principles and techniques • Emphasizes self-assembly in solutions (particularly, aqueous solutions) and at solid-liquid interfaces • Describes polymer assembly driven by multitude interactions, including solvophobic, electrostatic, and obligatory co-assembly • Illustrates assembly of bio-hybrid macromolecules and applications in biomedical engineering

An introduction to the state-of-the-art of the diverse self-assembly systems Self-Assembly: From Surfactants to Nanoparticles provides an effective entry for new researchers into this exciting field while also giving the state of the art assessment of the diverse self-assembling systems for those already engaged in this research. Over the last twenty years, self-assembly has emerged as a distinct science/technology field, going well beyond the classical surfactant and block copolymer molecules, and encompassing much larger and complex molecular, biomolecular and nanoparticle systems. Within its ten chapters, each contributed by pioneers of the respective research topics, the book: Discusses the fundamental physical chemical principles that govern the formation and properties of self-assembled systems Describes important experimental techniques to characterize the properties of self-assembled systems, particularly the nature of molecular organization and structure at the nano, meso or micro scales. Provides the first exhaustive accounting of self-assembly derived from various kinds of biomolecules including peptides, DNA and proteins. Outlines methods of synthesis and functionalization of self-assembled nanoparticles and the further self-assembly of the nanoparticles into one, two or three dimensional materials. Explores numerous potential applications of self-assembled structures including nanomedicine applications of drug delivery, imaging, molecular diagnostics and theranostics, and design of materials to specification such as smart responsive materials and self-healing materials. Highlights the unifying as well as contrasting features of self-assembly, as we move from surfactant molecules to nanoparticles. Written for students and academic and industrial scientists and engineers, by pioneers of the research field, Self-Assembly: From Surfactants to Nanoparticles is a comprehensive resource on diverse self-assembly systems, that is simultaneously introductory as well as the state of the art.

Top-down approaches are currently the main contributor of fabricating microelectronic devices. However, the prohibitive cost of numerous technological steps in these approaches is the main obstacle to further progress. Furthermore, a large number of applications necessitate fabrication of complex and ultra-small devices that cannot be made using these approaches. New approaches based on natural self-assembly of matter need to be developed to allow for fabrication of micro and nanoelectronic devices. Self-assembly of nanostructures is a dynamic field, which explores physics of these structures and new ways to fabricate them. However, the major problem is how to control the properties of the nanostructures resulting from low dimensionality. This book presents recent advances made to address this problem, and fabricate nanostructures using self-assembly.

Shapes of nano-objects matter significantly during their self-aggregation process. Other than the chemical compositions, people start to recognize such geometric effects of the basic building in all aspect blocks fundamentally drive the system into diverse mesostructures. Huge amount of research effects have been paid in the investigation of geometric effects in physiochemical systems. Depending on their length-scales, the effects lying under the geometry of nano-building blocks are demonstrated in directional interactions, shape-persistent molecules/molecular fragments, and larger nanoparticles/colloids. They are in all dimensions and at all scales, which largely ravel the problem and necessitate a prototype system to be scientifically designed and systematically studied. The molecular LEGO approach, therefore, becomes crucial. This approach was conceptualized by the modular synthesis and precise architecture while constructing the shape determined nano building blocks. By finely altering the functional groups at the atomic level, the yielded molecules would form a systematic library and therefore greatly facilitate the following study towards their self-assembly behaviors. In this dissertation, we would follow this approach to demonstrate the essential features of geometric effects in self-assembly. To grab the pivotal principle of them, we choose a simple shape-persistent fragment-"rod-like" motif and studied its interplay with other geometric units. In the following sections, the detailed experimental methods, conditions, and characterization data are presented. Three general molecular arrangements are adopted: rod-coil, rod-sphere-coil and rod-sphere. Within them, some subtypes of molecular geometries (e.g. I-shaped, T-shaped geometries based on the attachment modes) are also investigated. Based on the morphologies obtained, a strong correlation between the self-assembly behavior and molecular architectures are constructed. For the rod-coil molecules, a propensity to form a layered structure was observed. The introduced rod-like unit largely expend the region of the lamellar phase. For rod-sphere-coil arrangement, since the introduced hydrophilic spherical motifs are bulky, a framework like structure was observed. In this structure, multiple molecules come together to form the molecular bundles which then ligate with each other forming the hexagonally arranged cell. A similar phenomenon was observed in the formation of the novel bicontinuous phase. Based on the highly complex texture captured under TEM, we speculate a novel network like structure was involved. Similarly, when a longer coil part was introduced, a highly asymmetric lamellar structure was formed. To our knowledge, this is the system that achieves the largest asymmetric ratios among all systems. This interesting phase behavior was rationalized by the transition from a double-layered hydrophilic domain to a single-layered hydrophilic domain which entropically stabilizes the structure. In the last, we investigate the self-assembly of rod-sphere conjugates in solution. Novel morphologies, including bilayer vesicles, interdigitated nanosheets, and hexagonally structured colloids were obtained. We attribute the abundant yielded phases by modulating geometric parameters to variant mismatching interfacial areas. From a thermodynamic perspective, the delicate balance between bending energy and interfacial energy determines the final structure. The experimental studies were carried out in either bulk or solution suggesting the principles would be widely applied. Also, these studies indicate that "bottom-up" self-assemble based on well-defined giant molecules approach can be rather powerful to fabricate usually complicated hierarchical structures and open up a wide field of supramolecular self-assembly with unexpected structure and properties.

With this collection of short review papers we would like to present a broad overview of research on poly?uorenes and related heteroanalogues over the last two decades. The collection begins with papers on the synthesis of po- ?uorenesandrelatedpolyheteroarenes, thenreportsphotophysicalproperties of this class of conjugated polymers both at the ensemble and the single chain level, continues with a discussion of the rich solid state structures of poly?uorenes, and ?nally switches to device applications (e.g. in OLEDs). In addition, two chapters are devoted to de?ned oligo?uorenesas lowmolecular weight model systems forpoly?uorenes and also to degradation studies. We feel that this up-to-date collection will be very helpful to all polymer chemists and physicists, and will also aid graduate students interested in this fascinating and still growing area of research, since such a compact overview is only now available. All articles are presented by leading scientists in their ?elds, insuring state-of-the-art coverage of all relevant aspects. Together with the body of references this volume is meant to assist researchers in the daily lab routine. Moreover, Advances in Polymer Science, as an established series of high quality review papers, represents a very appropriate platform for our project.Wehopethatthisshortcollectionwillbeofgreatvaluebothforbeg- ners and established researchscientists inthe?eldofpoly?uorene research.