Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2008, 9(4), 486-497; doi:10.3390/ijms9040486
Article

Supramolecular Layer-by-Layer Assembly of 3D Multicomponent Nanostructures via Multivalent Molecular Recognition

Xing Yi Ling 1 email, In Yee Phang 2 email, David N. Reinhoudt 1 email, G. Julius Vancso 2 email and Jurriaan Huskens 1,* email
1 Molecular Nanofabrication Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands 2 Materials Science and Technology of Polymers, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 8 February 2008; in revised form: 26 March 2008 / Accepted: 31 March 2008 / Published: 4 April 2008
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Materials- From Functional Hybrid Materials to Functional Polymers)
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Abstract: The supramolecular layer-by-layer assembly of 3D multicomponent nanostructures of nanoparticles is demonstrated. Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) was used as the patterning tool for making patterned β-cyclodextrin (CD) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and for the confinement of nanoparticles on the substrate. A densely packed and multilayered nanoparticle structure was created by alternating assembly steps of complementary guest- (Fc-SiO2, 60 nm) and host-functionalized (CD-Au, 3 nm) nanoparticles. The effects induced by the order of the nanoparticle assembly steps, going from large to small and from small to large nanoparticles by using Fc-SiO2, CD-Au, and CD-SiO2 (350 nm) nanoparticles, were compared. AFM height profiles revealed that the specific supramolecular assembly of nanoparticles was self-limited, i.e. one nanoparticle layer per assembly step, allowing the control over the thickness of the supramolecular hybrid nanostructure by choosing the size of the nanoparticles, irrespective of the core material of the nanoparticles. The roughness of structure, observed by AFM imaging of the top layer, was directly influenced by the size and packing of the underlying nanoparticle layers.
Keywords: Supramolecular Chemistry; Layer-by-Layer Assembly; Nanoparticles; Nanoimprint lithography

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Ling, X.Y.; Phang, I.Y.; Reinhoudt, D.N.; Vancso, G.J.; Huskens, J. Supramolecular Layer-by-Layer Assembly of 3D Multicomponent Nanostructures via Multivalent Molecular Recognition. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2008, 9, 486-497.

AMA Style

Ling XY, Phang IY, Reinhoudt DN, Vancso GJ, Huskens J. Supramolecular Layer-by-Layer Assembly of 3D Multicomponent Nanostructures via Multivalent Molecular Recognition. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2008; 9(4):486-497.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ling, Xing Y.; Phang, In Y.; Reinhoudt, David N.; Vancso, G. J.; Huskens, Jurriaan. 2008. "Supramolecular Layer-by-Layer Assembly of 3D Multicomponent Nanostructures via Multivalent Molecular Recognition." Int. J. Mol. Sci. 9, no. 4: 486-497.

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