Nature Communications (Jun 2022)

Shape-assisted self-assembly

  • Joseph F. Woods,
  • Lucía Gallego,
  • Pauline Pfister,
  • Mounir Maaloum,
  • Andreas Vargas Jentzsch,
  • Michel Rickhaus

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31482-2
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Self-assembly and molecular recognition usually depend on strong, directional non-covalent interactions but also topography can play a role in the formation of supramolecular constructs which makes it nearly impossible to discern the potential of shape and motion in the creation of complexity. Here, the authors demonstrate that long-range order in supramolecular constructs can be assisted by the topography of the individual units even in the absence of highly directional interactions.