Molecular nanoarchitectonics: unification of nanotechnology and molecular/materials science

Abstract

The development of nanotechnology has provided an opportunity to integrate a wide range of phenomena and disciplines from the atomic scale, the molecular scale, and the nanoscale into materials. Nanoarchitectonics as a post-nanotechnology concept is a methodology for developing functional material systems using units such as atoms, molecules, and nanomaterials. Especially, molecular nanoarchitectonics has been strongly promoted recently by incorporating nanotechnological methods into organic synthesis. Examples of research that have attracted attention include the direct observation of organic synthesis processes at the molecular level with high resolution, and the control of organic syntheses with probe microscope tips. These can also be considered as starting points for nanoarchitectonics. In this review, these examples of molecular nanoarchitectonics are introduced, and future prospects of nanoarchitectonics are discussed. The fusion of basic science and the application of practical functional materials will complete materials chemistry for everything.

MXenes vs. clays: emerging and traditional 2D layered nanoarchitectonics

“…1–9 This characteristic of 2D solids makes it possible to prepare many diverse hybrid materials and nanoarchitectures by the intercalation of neutral and ionic species 3,5,6,10–16 or by assembly with inorganic nanoparticles of a very distinct nature. 17–21…”

Chemistry of Materials Nanoarchitectonics for Two-Dimensional Films: Langmuir–Blodgett, Layer-by-Layer Assembly, and Newcomers

“…Thin-film nanoarchitectonics, which is a departure from these methods, has also been reported. On-surface synthesis, in which molecules are intentionally made to react on the surface to create a two-dimensional structure, is also being investigated. − This can be called molecular nanoarchitectonics. − Other methodologies have been proposed to control the topology of polymerization of polymers and to spread them two-dimensionally. Li et al proposed a method for the controlled synthesis of linear and branched polymers from the same monomer of carbazole type (Figure A) .…”

“…This role is taken by an emerging concept of nanoarchitectonics, 31−33 the process of constructing functional materials from nanocomponents, which could be called a postnanotechnology concept (Figure 1). 34,35 The concept of nanoarchitectonics also has much in common with self-organization through supramolecular chemistry and bottom-up material creation. 36−38 Therefore, it is not an entirely new concept.…”

“…This role is taken by an emerging concept of nanoarchitectonics, − the process of constructing functional materials from nanocomponents, which could be called a postnanotechnology concept (Figure ). , …”

Layer-by-layer designer nanoarchitectonics for physical and chemical communications in functional materials

“…Rather than creating a new and novel field, nanoarchitectonics can be thought as the integration of many areas of materials science with a focus on nanotechnology. 14 In nanoarchitectonics approaches, the architecture of functional materials from nano-units is achieved through selection and combination of operations, such as atomic and molecular manipulation and their physical and chemical transformations, organizational processes such as self-assembly/self-organization and orientation and alignment by external forces and fields, and more advanced nano/microfabrication and biochemical processes. 15 This methodology is not bound by material or application objectives and can be applied to a wide variety of objects.…”