Directed Self-Assembly of Micro- and Nanoparticles

Dear Colleagues,

Interactions between micro- and nanoparticles (e.g., electrostatics, van der Waals, steric, and depletion) are responsible for the self-assembly of microstructures such as crystals or gels. Experimental and simulation studies of assembly processes have yielded insight into the thermodynamic pathways required to overcome kinetic barriers and achieve specific equilibrium phases. The fundamental understanding provided by these studies can be used to create structures for materials applications, such as additive manufacturing, catalysis, and photonics. However, self-assembly is limited by the diffusion rate of the constituent particles, making it difficult to scale up self-assembly for some of these materials applications.

The aim of this Special Issue is to survey the use of external fields for the directed self-assembly of micro- and nanoparticles. Examples of external fields include shear, electric, magnetic, optical, and gravitational interactions. Applying external fields significantly reduces the time it takes to assemble microstructures, enabling the creation of new materials for consumer or industrial applications. Full papers, communications, and reviews discussing any fundamental or practical aspect of directed self-assembly of micro- and nanoparticles are invited for inclusion in this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Jaime Javier Juárez
Guest Editor

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