Tunable morphology and functionality of multicomponent self-assembly: A review
Liangchun Li, Rongqin Sun, Renlin Zheng
Abstract
Programmed self-assembly and self-organization of well-designed molecular monomers have been widely used to design stable nanostructures with desired structures and unique functions. Due to the nature of the self-assembly process, it is difficult to control the size and morphology of the self-assembled nanomaterials. Multicomponent supramolecular self-assembly can be achieved to control the self-assembly process and provides the possibility to generate a wider and more complex structure, enhance modularity and provide spatiotemporal control of self-assembly. In this review, it is believed that multicomponent self-assembly may offer a new way to build tuning morphology and functionality materials. The tuning of morphology and functionality of multicomponent co-assembly was discussed according to the purpose of their mixing in the following three aspects separately: (1) one of the components can self-assemble individually, the other added components can tune the morphology and functionality of the assemblies, (2) all of the components can self-assemble individually, the mixture can strength the assemblies or generate new functionalities, (3) none of the components can self-assemble individually, but the mixtures can self-assemble into novel properties.