Self-assembly of organic nano-objects into functional materials

The use of supramolecular chemistry to design highly functional materials is a wide open field for materials-science research. The ability to design structures of low dimensionality will introduce novel properties in designed materials that are extremely useful in biological systems. Two-dimensionality of protein networks is a great tool for controlling the ability of cells to change shape reversibly. Descending to one-dimensional structures might be able to mediate transport phenomena and control the orientation of highly anisotropic mesoscopic objects. Absolute control over the chemistry, shape, and size of zero-dimensional structures should be the ultimate goal.