October 28, 2003
Source:
Heinrich Jaeger and Ward Lopes
- References:
Lopes, Ward A., and Jaeger, Heinrich. "Hierarchical self-assembly of metal
nanostructures on diblock copolymer scaffolds". Nature 414
p.735-738 (2001).
Description:
Self-assembly is emerging as an elegant, "bottom-up"
method for fabricating nanostructured materials. This approach becomes
particularly powerful when the ease and control offered by the self-assembly of
organic components is combined with the electronic, magnetic or photonic
properties of inorganic components.
False-color transmission electron microscope image of self-assembled silver
nanowires produced at the University of Chicago. Silver wires in this image are
colored blue-grey. The different color shades correspond to different
orientations of small crystallites that have flues to form the wires.
Polymethylmethacrylate domains between the wires are not wetted by silver metal
and appear pinkish. The center-to-center spacing between neighboring wires is 50
nanometers.
