Synthesis and applications of 1D and 2D nanoparticles prepared through crystallisation-driven self-assembly

Abstract

Controlled, hierarchical assembly across length scales is a hallmark of natural materials and is often cited as the origin of their desirable properties - bone is the archetypal example, with its impressive combination of stiffness and toughness. Chemists have become adept at manipulating molecules, so it is now a fundamental goal of materials science to achieve a similar level of control over shape and size at the next level up: the nanoscale. This goal is now beginning to be realised, enabled by advances in precision polymer self-assembly methodologies. Crystallisation-driven self-assembly (CDSA) has emerged as a powerful technique to achieve nanoparticles of controlled morphology and size and which chemistry can be manipulated to achieve tuneable properties. In this perspective, we highlight the different methods for the CDSA of anisotropic nanoparticles (1D and 2D) with exquisite control over morphology and dimensions. We discuss the properties of these materials in a variety of different areas, from optoelectronics and information storage to biological processing and materials engineering, illustrating how nanoparticle chemistry can be modulated through living CDSA to produce nanomaterials with unique functionalities.