title: Light-controlled self-assembly of reversible and irreversible nanoparticle suprastructures.
abstract: Nanoparticles (NPs) decorated with ligands combining photoswitchable dipoles and covalent cross-linkers can be assembled by light into organized, three-dimensional suprastructures of various types and sizes. NPs covered with only few photoactive ligands form metastable crystals that can be assembled and disassembled "on demand" by using light of different wavelengths. For higher surface concentrations, self-assembly is irreversible, and the NPs organize into permanently cross-linked structures including robust supracrystals and plastic spherical aggregates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Rafal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klajn
authors.forename: Kyle J M
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Bartosz A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Grzybowski
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D007536:Isomerism; D008024:Ligands; D008027:Light; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D008024:Ligands; D006046:Gold; C009850:azobenzene