Nanoparticle Polymer Ensembles

Self-assembly of nanoparticles mediated by polymers provides access to stabilized metal and semiconductor nanocomposites as well as allows for the fabrication of new structured nanoscale materials. Several attributes of the individual building blocks such as the size and shape of individual metal clusters, composition of the monolayer, and functional groups on the polymers allows control over the properties of these nanocomposites. Additional control over the structure and morphology of such nanocomposites can be induced by changes in the polymer structure. Such construction of composite materials using the assembly of nanoscopic building blocks or the ‘bottom-up’ approach provides a methodology complementary to ‘top-down’ lithographic methods. The ‘bottom-up’ approach provides access to structures smaller and with greater 3-dimensional control than is possible through sophisticated lithographic techniques such as electron-beam lithography.1 Successful integration of these two approaches is a challenge that needs to be addressed. Such multiscale engineering would allow fabrication of intricate functional devices with atomic level structural control that manifests and spans itself into the macroscopic world and thus could provide a successful integration of the two approaches.