Exploring Complexity from Simplicity:
Principles and Applications of Self-organizing Matter at the Nanoscale
Level.
Chemistry Department, Princeton University,
In this talk I hope to analyze the energetic, structural and kinetic
foundations
that stand at the basis of self-organization in many organic materials
that self-assemble into ordered and useful structures at the nanoscale
level. Some of these materials are useful model systems in the study of
the behavior of matter in more complex (mostly biological) structures.
Some others are being increasingly used for practical applications that
range from the preservation and useful modification of technological surfaces
and drug delivery to electronic and optoelectronic devices. Finally, some
of these structures are simply beautiful constructs which we now fabricate
and image with unprecedented detail in order to master these microscopic
control techniques which are so young but, at the same time, so full of
promise.