Micron- to Millimeter-scale Self Assembly

有机化学和高分子化学计划支持哈佛大学的George M.Whiteside教授，他建议开展研究，了解平衡自组装背后的基本过程，即在没有外部(人类或机器人)干预的情况下，“组件”自发地聚集成更大的有序结构。元件可以是从离子到微电路的任何东西。自组装是一个宽泛的概念：原则上它包括许多现象和一系列大小。水结晶成冰，胶体颗粒晶体的形成，脂双层的形成，蛋白质的折叠，生物体的生长，天气模式的发展，以及星系的形成，都涉及到自组装。在这一系列的例子中有几个子类别：平衡和动态(即，不平衡)系统，非生命和生命系统，以及分子和所谓的中尺度系统(系统大于分子，但在宏观尺度上仍然很小)与怀特赛兹教授的工作特别相关。这项研究将开发尺寸大于分子的部件(尺寸从毫米到微米的部件)的平衡自组装，目标有五：i)了解平衡自组装的基本过程；ii)探索使用介观部件进行自组装的范围；iii)开发将成为有用的、电子和光学功能设备自组装的基础的系统(部件和相互作用)；iv)抽象基于生物自组装的概念，并将这些概念用于中观尺度自组装；v)开发自组装的设计规则。有机和高分子化学项目支持乔治·M·怀特赛兹教授，他希望将对自组装和分子识别的基本理解扩展到中观和微观尺度。这些概念在分子水平上得到了很好的定义。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型组件。微电子和其他高科技行业将受益于微规模组装和三维设备集成的新工具。怀特赛德教授的研究和其他相关活动具有非常强的教育成分。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的合作，包括来自少数群体的研究人员。怀特赛德团队的毕业生组成了越来越多的从事自我组装和相关学科研究的教职员工。

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.