Characterization of Aggregates and Assemblies

The light scattering intensity is strongly dependent on the particle size, which leads to rather low sensitivity for smaller molecules. SEC in combination with SLS detection with multiple angles enables the possibility to obtain additional information about the conformation and scaling properties and aggregation behavior of the molecules. 

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The present account confines itself to a few examples, which demonstrate the ingenious exploitation of amphiphilic aggregate-based systems for specific purposes. It is clear that a collection of the right molecules, properly assembled, can accomplish much more than an equal number of the same molecules functioning in isolation. Remarkable advances have been made in recent years in the physical techniques by which one can characterize the above type of aggregates and utilize them for various materials applications. State-of-the-art characterization coupled with clever molecular design should hold the key for the development of smart systems. 

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