Pelesko J.A. Self Assembly: The Science of Things That Put Themselves Together

Taylor & Francis Group, LLC, Boca Raton, FL, USA, 2007. – 317 p. – ISBN: 1584886870Hailed as one of the key areas of nanoscience likely to shape future scientific research, self-assembly offers the most promising route to true molecular nanotechnology. Focusing on this dynamic new field, Self Assembly: The Science of Things That Put Themselves Together explores nature's self-assembly of structures, the use of it to build engineered systems, and the latest advances in the field.
Reflecting the inherent progress of the science of self-assembly, this definitive book first delves into natural self-assembling systems. It addresses crystal growth, soap films, and micelles; examines how nature builds viruses, proteins, and ribosomes; and introduces the protein folding problem. The author then discusses how physicists, chemists, biologists, and engineers are applying nature's principles to self-assemble everything from DNA cubes to millimeter-scale electronic circuits. The final chapters cover theoretical and experimental approaches to understand the phenomenon of self-assembly and overcome its various challenges.
With practical activities, profiles of leading experts, chapter highlights, exercises, and references, Self Assembly provides the most current authoritative information on this exciting branch of nanoscience.The Natural World
Inorganic System
Organic Systems
Lessons from the Natural World
Engineered Systems
The “Cheerios Effect” and Other Simple Systems
Static Self-Assembly
Dynamic Self-Assembly
DNA Self-Assembly
The Future
Models of Self-Assembly
Directions
Color Plates
Appendices
The Calculus of Variations
Useful Web Sites