title: Hierarchical self-assembly of complex polyhedral microcontainers.
abstract: The concept of self-assembly of a two-dimensional (2D) template to a three-dimensional (3D) structure has been suggested as a strategy to enable highly parallel fabrication of complex, patterned microstructures. We have previously studied the surface tension based self-assembly of patterned, microscale polyhedral containers (cubes, square pyramids and tetrahedral frusta). In this paper, we describe the observed hierarchical self-assembly of more complex, patterned polyhedral containers in the form of regular dodecahedra and octahedra. The hierarchical design methodology, combined with the use of self-correction mechanisms, was found to greatly reduce the propagation of self-assembly error that occurs in these more complex systems. It is a highly effective way to mass-produce patterned, complex 3D structures on the microscale and could also facilitate encapsulation of cargo in a parallel and cost-effective manner. Furthermore, the behavior that we have observed may be useful in the assembly of complex systems with large numbers of components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Filipiak
authors.forename: Anum
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azam
authors.forename: Timothy G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gracias