Molecular self-assembly 1 is the assembly of molecules without guidance or management from an outside source. Self-assembly can occur spontaneously in nature, for example, in cells such as the self-assembly of the lipid bilayer membrane. An efficient approach to molecular self-assembly having received ample attention during the last decade is the created of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) using relatively weak intermolecular interactions between certain types of organic molecules, such as thiols or phosphonic acids, and a gold or oxidic surface. SAMs have a wide range of applications. Applications include: surface wetting, non-fouling property, electrochemistry, surface passivation, protein binding, DNA assembly, corrosion resistance, biological arrays and cell interactions. 2-4 SAMs also are contained, in large numbers, in materials for the semiconductor electronics industry such as nanowires, nanotransistor and nanosensors. Figure 1 illustrates some of the many uses of SAMs. References: 1. Material Matters™, v.. 1, No 2 (2006). 2. J.C. Love et al. Chem. Rev., 105, 1103 (2005). 3. N.K. Chaki et al. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 17, 1 (2002). 4. A. Ulman, Chem. Rev., 96, 1533 (1996). |
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