Nanosize building blocks

The building blocks of all materials in any phase are atoms and molecules. Their arrangements and how they interact with one another define many properties of the material. The nanotechnology MBBs, because of their sizes of a few nanometers, impart to the nanostructures created from them new and possibly preferred properties and characteristics heretofore unavailable in conventional materials and devices. These nanosize building blocks are intermediate in size, lying between atoms and microscopic and macroscopic systems. These building blocks contain a hmited and countable number of atoms. They constitute the basis of our entry into new realms of bottom-up nanotechnology [97, 98]. 

Polymer-mediated self-assembly of nanoparticles provides a versatile and effective approach for the fabrication of new materials. This bottom-up strategy builds up nanocomposite materials from diverse nanosized building blocks by incorporation of molecular-level recognition sites. The flexibility and reversibUity of self-assembly processes imparted by specific molecular interactions facilitates the formation of defect-free superstmctures, and it can be further explored in fields ranging from electronics to molecular biology. 

The bottom-up techniques described herein are based on the use of nanosize building blocks to fabricate precisely organized solids at various scales. The final architecture of the solid, and the way these blocks combine with each other, can be conveniently adjusted by the synthesis conditions, the selection and modification of these nanoblocks, and their chemical functionality. The spontaneous arrangement of individual nanoblocks is generally obtained via self-assembly through weak interactions. The control over the organization of these components allows for the incorporation of nanoparticles, biomolecules, or chemical functionalities inside the solid structure in highly precise locations. 

The direct incorporation of these nanoarchitectures in existing materials to improve their properties is often referred to as incremental nanotechnology. However, as we will see later in this chapter, the self-assembly of these nanosized building blocks into 2D and 3D architectures may yield entirely new devices and functionalities -referred to as evolutionary nanotechnology. 

Deleuze, C., Derail, C., Delville, M.H., Billon, L. Hierarchically stmctured hybrid honeycomb films via micro to nanosized building blocks. Soft Matter 8, 8559-8562 (2012)... 

Mesocrystal structures can be applied to the active materials of lithium-ion batteries. The crystallinity, specific surface area, and exposed crystal face have potential for the improvement of their performance. The nanosized building blocks contribute to shorten the diffusion distance of lithium ions. The conductivity of ions and electrons can be improved by the single crystalline structure. The high surface area and porous interior are beneficial for the reversible stability at a high charge-discharge rate. 

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