Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 8
From Self-Assembly and Dewetting
Johannes A. A. W. Elemans,
*
Roeland J. M. Nolte, and Alan E. Rowan
Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Molecules and Materials,
Nijmegen, The Netherlands
*J.Elemans@science.ru.nl
8.1
Introduction
The self-assembly of low-molecular-weight molecules from solution
into extended superstructures has become a very popular way to
create functional materials that are generally difficult to obtain
via conventional methods as covalent synthesis or top-down
lithography. A popular class of building blocks for such materials
is the chromophores, e.g., porphyrins and phthalocyanines. By
organizing these disk-shaped molecules in a controlled fashion into
well-defined arrays, new materials can be obtained that exhibit
peculiar photophysical and (opto)electronic properties as a result
of excitonic interactions between adjacent chromophore units [1].
The most fascinating examples of such self-assembled arrays of
chromophores can be found in nature, e.g., in the light harvesting
complex, which is employed for photosynthesis by plants and
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