title: Directed self-assembly of nanoparticles.
abstract: Within the field of nanotechnology, nanoparticles are one of the most prominent and promising candidates for technological applications. Self-assembly of nanoparticles has been identified as an important process where the building blocks spontaneously organize into ordered structures by thermodynamic and other constraints. However, in order to successfully exploit nanoparticle self-assembly in technological applications and to ensure efficient scale-up, a high level of direction and control is required. The present review critically investigates to what extent self-assembly can be directed, enhanced, or controlled by either changing the energy or entropy landscapes, using templates or applying external fields.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Física and Unidad Asociada CSIC-Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grzelczak
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vermant
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Furst
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Liz-Marzán
mesh_terms: D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D013816:Thermodynamics