Micron- to Millimeter-scale Self Assembly

有机和大分子化学项目支持哈佛大学的George M. Whitesides教授，他建议研究平衡自组装的基本过程，即“组件”自发聚集成更大的有序结构，而不需要外部（人类或机器人）的干预。组件可以是任何东西，从离子到微电路。自组装是一个广泛的概念：原则上它包括许多现象和尺寸范围。水结晶成冰、胶体粒子晶体的形成、脂质双层的形成、蛋白质的折叠、生物体的生长、天气模式的形成以及星系的形成都涉及到自组装。在这一系列例子中有几个子类：平衡和动态（即非平衡）系统，非生命和生命系统，以及分子和所谓的中尺度系统（比分子大但在宏观尺度上仍然小的系统）与怀特塞德斯教授的工作特别相关。本研究将开发尺寸大于分子（尺寸从毫米到微米）的组件的平衡自组装，其目标有五个：1)了解平衡自组装的基本过程；Ii)探索使用中观尺度组件的自组装范围；Iii)开发系统（组件和相互作用），这些系统将构成有用的、电气和光学功能设备自组装的基础；Iv)基于生物自组装的抽象概念，并将这些概念用于中尺度自组装；V)制定自组装的设计规则。有机和大分子化学项目支持George M. Whitesides教授，他希望将自组装和分子识别的基本理解扩展到中观尺度和微观尺度。这些概念在分子水平上有很好的定义。这项工作最直接的实际影响将是制造微系统（特别是电子微系统，如显示器和多组件电路），而不使用机器人系统来定位微观组件。微电子和其他高科技行业将受益于微型装配和三维器件集成的新工具。怀特塞兹教授的研究和其他相关活动具有很强的教育成分。这包括对研究生和博士后的传统和多学科培训，以及与本科生研究人员合作，包括来自少数民族的研究人员。怀特塞兹团队的毕业生组成了一个不断壮大的团队，从事自组装和相关学科的研究。

The Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program supports Professor George M. Whitesides at Harvard University who proposes research on understanding the fundamental processes that underlie equilibrium self-assembly, which is the spontaneous aggregation of "components" into larger, ordered structures without external (human or robotic) intervention. Components can be anything from ions to microcircuits. Self-assembly is a broad concept: in principle it includes many phenomena, and a range of sizes. Crystallization of water into ice, formation of crystals of colloid particles, formation of lipid bilayers, folding of proteins, growth of organisms, development of weather patterns, and formation of galaxies all involve self-assembly. There are several sub-categories in this host of examples: equilibrium and dynamic (that is, out-of-equilibrium) systems, non-living and living systems, and molecular and so-called meso-scale systems (systems bigger than molecules but still small on a macroscopic scale) are particularly relevant to Professor Whitesides' work. This research will develop equilibrium self-assembly of components having sizes larger than molecules (components with dimensions from millimeters to microns) with five objectives: i) to understand the fundamental processes that underlie equilibrium self-assembly; ii) to explore the scope of self-assembly using meso-scale components; iii) to develop systems (components and interactions) that will form the basis for self-assembly of useful, electrically and optically functional devices; iv) to abstract concepts based on biological self-assembly, and to use these concepts in meso-scale self-assembly; v) to develop design rules for self-assembly. The Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program supports Professor George M. Whitesides who hopes to extend fundamental understanding of self-assembly and molecular recognition to the meso-scale and the micro-scale. These concepts are well defined at the molecular level. The most immediate practical impact of this work will be in fabricating microsystems (especially electronic microsystems such as displays and multicomponent circuits) without using robotic systems to position microscopic components. Microelectronics and other high technology industries will benefit from new tools for microscale assembly and three dimensional device integration. Professor Whitesides' research and other related activities have a very strong educational component. This includes both traditional and multidisciplinary training of graduate students and postdocs and working with undergraduate researchers, including ones from minority groups. Graduates from Whitesides' group form a growing group of faculty performing research in self-assembly and related disciplines.