# Self-assembly ## expand\_more #### Self-assembly Living systems provide compelling evidence that multi scale, adaptive architectures can be built simply by letting their smallest parts self-organize as dictated by their intrinsic properties. With a comprehensive understanding of the forces at play, building block features can be used to program selective, inducible top-down self-disassembly steps, giving synthetic assembled structures a wide variety of dynamic, reversible, responsive behaviors. ## Projects [### Colloidal co-assembly ](/colloidal-co-assembly-0) ![coassembled.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/coassembled.jpg?itok=U9869yA4) [### Hierarchical helical nanofiber assembly ](/hierarchical-helical-nanofiber-assembly) ![hierarchical.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/hierarchical.jpg?h=848e9390&itok=ofPaiR91) [### Dynamic and reversible self-assembly ](/dynamic-and-reversible-self-assembly) ![mariko1.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/mariko1.jpg?itok=7h9a42U4) Publications ## Publications Download 45 citations download- [BibTeX](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=15&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_affiliated_authors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationgroupaffi%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=106131&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_year123456%5D&&&format=bibtex) - [EndNote X3 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=15&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_affiliated_authors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationgroupaffi%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=106131&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_year123456%5D&&&format=endnote8) - [EndNote 7 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=15&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_affiliated_authors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationgroupaffi%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=106131&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_year123456%5D&&&format=endnote7) - [Endnote tagged](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=15&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_affiliated_authors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationgroupaffi%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=106131&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_year123456%5D&&&format=tagged) - [Marc](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=15&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_affiliated_authors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationgroupaffi%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=106131&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_year123456%5D&&&format=marc) - [PubMedId](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=15&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_affiliated_authors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationgroupaffi%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=106131&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_year123456%5D&&&format=pubmed_id) - [RIS](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=15&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_affiliated_authors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationgroupaffi%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=106131&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_year123456%5D&&&format=ris) ### 2025 Lim KRG, Owen CJ, Kaiser SK, Routh PK, Mendoza M, Park K-CK, Kim T-S, Garg S, Gardener JA, Russotto L, et al. [Nanoscale wetting controls reactive Pd ensembles in synthesis of dilute PdAu alloy catalysts](/publication/nanoscale-wetting-controls-reactive-pd-ensembles-synthesis-dilute-pdau-alloy-catalysts). Nature Communications. 2025;16:6293. Lim KRG, Owen CJ, Kaiser SK, Routh PK, Mendoza M, Park K-CK, Kim T-S, Garg S, Gardener JA, Russotto L, et al. [Nanoscale wetting controls reactive Pd ensembles in synthesis of dilute PdAu alloy catalysts](/publication/nanoscale-wetting-controls-reactive-pd-ensembles-synthesis-dilute-pdau-alloy-catalysts). Nature Communications. 2025;16:6293. - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61540-4) The performance of bimetallic dilute alloy catalysts is largely determined by the size of minority metal ensembles on the nanoparticle surface. By analyzing the synthesis of catalysts comprising Pd8Au92 nanoparticles supported on silica using surface... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61540-4) ### 2024 Shneidman A V, T Y Zhang C, Mandsberg NK, Picece VCTM, Shirman E, Paink GK, Nicolas NJ, Aizenberg J. [Functional supraparticles produced by the evaporation of binary colloidal suspensions on superhydrophobic surfaces](/publication/functional-supraparticles-produced-evaporation-binary-colloidal-suspensions). Soft matter. 2024;20(37):7502–7511. doi:10.1039/d4sm00458b Shneidman A V, T Y Zhang C, Mandsberg NK, Picece VCTM, Shirman E, Paink GK, Nicolas NJ, Aizenberg J. [Functional supraparticles produced by the evaporation of binary colloidal suspensions on superhydrophobic surfaces](/publication/functional-supraparticles-produced-evaporation-binary-colloidal-suspensions). Soft matter. 2024;20(37):7502–7511. doi:10.1039/d4sm00458b - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Hierarchically structured supraparticles can be produced by drying droplets of colloidal suspensions. Using binary suspensions provides degrees of structural and functional control beyond those possible for single components, while remaining tractable for... ### 2023 Zhou X, Zheng Y, Zhang H, Yang L, Cui Y, Krishnan BP, Dong S, Aizenberg M, Xiong X, Hu Y, et al. [Reversibly growing crosslinked polymers with programmable sizes and properties.](/publication/reversibly-growing-crosslinked-polymers-programmable-sizes-and-properties) Nature communications. 2023;14(1):3302. doi:10.1038/s41467-023-38768-z Zhou X, Zheng Y, Zhang H, Yang L, Cui Y, Krishnan BP, Dong S, Aizenberg M, Xiong X, Hu Y, et al. [Reversibly growing crosslinked polymers with programmable sizes and properties.](/publication/reversibly-growing-crosslinked-polymers-programmable-sizes-and-properties) Nature communications. 2023;14(1):3302. doi:10.1038/s41467-023-38768-z - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Growth constitutes a powerful method to post-modulate materials' structures and functions without compromising their mechanical performance for sustainable use, but the process is irreversible. To address this issue, we here report a growing-degrowing... ### 2022 Yao Y, Bennett RKA, Xu Y, Rather AM, Li S, Cheung TC, Bhanji A, Kreder MJ, Daniel D, Adera S, et al. [Wettability-based ultrasensitive detection of amphiphiles through directed concentration at disordered regions in self-assembled monolayers.](/publication/wettability-based-ultrasensitive-detection-amphiphiles-through-directed-concentration) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2022;119(43):e2211042119. doi:10.1073/pnas.2211042119 Yao Y, Bennett RKA, Xu Y, Rather AM, Li S, Cheung TC, Bhanji A, Kreder MJ, Daniel D, Adera S, et al. [Wettability-based ultrasensitive detection of amphiphiles through directed concentration at disordered regions in self-assembled monolayers.](/publication/wettability-based-ultrasensitive-detection-amphiphiles-through-directed-concentration) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2022;119(43):e2211042119. doi:10.1073/pnas.2211042119 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Various forms of ecological monitoring and disease diagnosis rely upon the detection of amphiphiles, including lipids, lipopolysaccharides, and lipoproteins, at ultralow concentrations in small droplets. Although assays based on droplets' wettability... van der Hoeven JES, Shneidman A V, Nicolas NJ, Aizenberg J. [Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly of Metal Oxide Inverse Opals: From Synthesis to Applications.](/publication/evaporation-induced-self-assembly-metal-oxide-inverse-opals-synthesis-applications) Accounts of chemical research. 2022;55(13):1809–1820. doi:10.1021/acs.accounts.2c00087 van der Hoeven JES, Shneidman A V, Nicolas NJ, Aizenberg J. [Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly of Metal Oxide Inverse Opals: From Synthesis to Applications.](/publication/evaporation-induced-self-assembly-metal-oxide-inverse-opals-synthesis-applications) Accounts of chemical research. 2022;55(13):1809–1820. doi:10.1021/acs.accounts.2c00087 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract ConspectusInverse opals (IOs) are highly interconnected three-dimensional macroporous structures with applications in a variety of disciplines from optics to catalysis. For instance, when the pore size is on the scale of the wavelength of visible light... Han JH, Shneidman A V, Kim DY, Nicolas NJ, van der Hoeven JES, Aizenberg M, Aizenberg J. [Highly Ordered Inverse Opal Structures Synthesized from Shape-Controlled Nanocrystal Building Blocks.](/publication/highly-ordered-inverse-opal-structures-synthesized-shape-controlled-nanocrystal) Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English). 2022;61(3):e202111048. doi:10.1002/anie.202111048 Han JH, Shneidman A V, Kim DY, Nicolas NJ, van der Hoeven JES, Aizenberg M, Aizenberg J. [Highly Ordered Inverse Opal Structures Synthesized from Shape-Controlled Nanocrystal Building Blocks.](/publication/highly-ordered-inverse-opal-structures-synthesized-shape-controlled-nanocrystal) Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English). 2022;61(3):e202111048. doi:10.1002/anie.202111048 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Three-dimensional ordered porous materials known as inverse opal films (IOFs) were synthesized using nanocrystals with precisely defined morphologies. Comprehensive theoretical and experimental studies of the volume fraction ratio and electrostatic... ### 2021 Nicolas N, Duffy MA, Hansen A, Aizenberg J. [Inverse Opal Films for Medical Sensing: Application in Diagnosis of Neonatal Jaundice](/publications/inverse-opal-films-medical-sensing-application-diagnosis-neonatal-jaundice). Advanced Healthcare Materials. 2021;10(4):2001326. doi:10.1002/adhm.202001326 Nicolas N, Duffy MA, Hansen A, Aizenberg J. [Inverse Opal Films for Medical Sensing: Application in Diagnosis of Neonatal Jaundice](/publications/inverse-opal-films-medical-sensing-application-diagnosis-neonatal-jaundice). Advanced Healthcare Materials. 2021;10(4):2001326. doi:10.1002/adhm.202001326 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract A non-invasive, at-home test for neonatal jaundice can facilitate early jaundice detection in infants, improving clinical outcomes for neonates with severe jaundice and helping to prevent the development of kernicterus, a type of brain damage whose... Adera S, Naworski L, Davitt A, Mandsberg N, Shneidman A, Alvarenga J, Aizenberg J. [Enhanced condensation heat transfer using porous silica inverse opal coatings on copper tubes](/publications/enhanced-condensation-heat-transfer-using-porous-silica-inverse-opal-coatings). Scientific Reports. 2021;11(1):1–11. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-90015-x Adera S, Naworski L, Davitt A, Mandsberg N, Shneidman A, Alvarenga J, Aizenberg J. [Enhanced condensation heat transfer using porous silica inverse opal coatings on copper tubes](/publications/enhanced-condensation-heat-transfer-using-porous-silica-inverse-opal-coatings). Scientific Reports. 2021;11(1):1–11. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-90015-x - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Phase-change condensation is commonplace in nature and industry. Since the 1930s, it is well understood that vapor condenses in filmwise mode on clean metallic surfaces whereas it condenses by forming discrete droplets on surfaces coated with a promoter... Li L, Goodrich C, Yang H, Phillips K, Jia Z, Chen H, Wang L, Zhang J, Liu A, Lu J, et al. [Microscopic origins of the crystallographically preferred growth in evaporation-induced colloidal crystals](/publications/microscopic-origins-crystallographically-preferred-growth-evaporation-induced). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2021;118(32):e2107588118. doi:10.1073/pnas.2107588118 Li L, Goodrich C, Yang H, Phillips K, Jia Z, Chen H, Wang L, Zhang J, Liu A, Lu J, et al. [Microscopic origins of the crystallographically preferred growth in evaporation-induced colloidal crystals](/publications/microscopic-origins-crystallographically-preferred-growth-evaporation-induced). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2021;118(32):e2107588118. doi:10.1073/pnas.2107588118 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Self-assembly is one of the central themes in biologically controlled synthesis, and it also plays a pivotal role in fabricating a variety of advanced engineering materials. In particular, evaporation-induced self-assembly of colloidal particles enables... ### 2020 Phillips KR, Zhang CT, Yang T, Kay T, Gao C, Brandt S, Liu L, Yang H, Li Y, Aizenberg J, et al. [Fabrication of Photonic Microbricks via Crack Engineering of Colloidal Crystals](/publications/fabrication-photonic-microbricks-crack-engineering-colloidal-crystals-0). Advanced Functional Materials. 2020;(30):1908242. doi:10.1002/adfm.201908242 Phillips KR, Zhang CT, Yang T, Kay T, Gao C, Brandt S, Liu L, Yang H, Li Y, Aizenberg J, et al. [Fabrication of Photonic Microbricks via Crack Engineering of Colloidal Crystals](/publications/fabrication-photonic-microbricks-crack-engineering-colloidal-crystals-0). Advanced Functional Materials. 2020;(30):1908242. doi:10.1002/adfm.201908242 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Evaporation-induced self-assembly of colloidal particles is one of the most versatile fabrication routes to obtain large-area colloidal crystals; however, the formation of uncontrolled “drying cracks” due to gradual solvent evaporation represents a... ### 2018 Shirman T, Lattimer J, Luneau M, Shirman E, Reece C, Aizenberg M, Madix RJ, Aizenberg J, Friend CM. [New Architectures for Designed Catalysts: Selective Oxidation using AgAu Nanoparticles on Colloid-Templated Silica](/publications/new-architectures-designed-catalysts-selective-oxidation-using-agau). Chem. Eur. J. 2018;24:1833 –1837 . Shirman T, Lattimer J, Luneau M, Shirman E, Reece C, Aizenberg M, Madix RJ, Aizenberg J, Friend CM. [New Architectures for Designed Catalysts: Selective Oxidation using AgAu Nanoparticles on Colloid-Templated Silica](/publications/new-architectures-designed-catalysts-selective-oxidation-using-agau). Chem. Eur. J. 2018;24:1833 –1837 . - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.201704552/full) A highly modular synthesis of designed catalysts with controlled bimetallic nanoparticle size and composition and a well-defined structural hierarchy is demonstrated. Exemplary catalysts—bimetallic dilute Ag-in-Au nanoparticles partially embedded in a... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.201704552/full) Phillips KR, Shirman T, Shirman E, Shneidman AV, Kay TM, Aizenberg J. [Nanocrystalline Precursors for the Co-Assembly of Crack-Free Metal Oxide Inverse Opals](/publications/nanocrystalline-precursors-co-assembly-crack-free-metal-oxide-inverse-opals). Adv. Mater. 2018;30:1706329. Phillips KR, Shirman T, Shirman E, Shneidman AV, Kay TM, Aizenberg J. [Nanocrystalline Precursors for the Co-Assembly of Crack-Free Metal Oxide Inverse Opals](/publications/nanocrystalline-precursors-co-assembly-crack-free-metal-oxide-inverse-opals). Adv. Mater. 2018;30:1706329. - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adma.201706329) Inorganic microstructured materials are ubiquitous in nature. However, their formation in artificial self-assembly systems is challenging as it involves a complex interplay of competing forces during and after assembly. For example, colloidal assembly... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adma.201706329) ### 2017 Kaplan C, Noorduin W, Li L, Sadza R, Folkertsma L, Aizenberg J, Mahadevan L. [Controlled growth and form of precipitating microstructures](/publications/controlled-growth-and-form-precipitating-microstructures). Science. 2017;355(6332):1395–1399. Kaplan C, Noorduin W, Li L, Sadza R, Folkertsma L, Aizenberg J, Mahadevan L. [Controlled growth and form of precipitating microstructures](/publications/controlled-growth-and-form-precipitating-microstructures). Science. 2017;355(6332):1395–1399. - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](http://science.sciencemag.org/content/355/6332/1395.long) Controlled self-assembly of three-dimensional shapes holds great potential for fabrication of functional materials. Their practical realization requires a theoretical framework to quantify and guide the dynamic sculpting of the curved structures that... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](http://science.sciencemag.org/content/355/6332/1395.long) Shirman E, Shirman T, Shneidman AV, Grinthal A, Phillips KR, Whelan H, Bulger E, Abramovitch M, Patil J, Nevarez R, et al. [Modular Design of Advanced Catalytic Materials Using Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Raspberry Particles](/publications/modular-design-advanced-catalytic-materials-using-hybrid-organic%E2%80%93inorganic). Adv. Func. Mater. 2017:1704559. Shirman E, Shirman T, Shneidman AV, Grinthal A, Phillips KR, Whelan H, Bulger E, Abramovitch M, Patil J, Nevarez R, et al. [Modular Design of Advanced Catalytic Materials Using Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Raspberry Particles](/publications/modular-design-advanced-catalytic-materials-using-hybrid-organic%E2%80%93inorganic). Adv. Func. Mater. 2017:1704559. - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adfm.201704559) Catalysis is one of the most sophisticated areas of materials research that encompasses a diverse set of materials and phenomena occurring on multiple length and time scales. Designing catalysts that can be broadly applied toward global energy and... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adfm.201704559) ### 2016 Grinthal A, Noorduin W, Aizenberg J. [A Constructive Chemical Conversation](/publications/constructive-chemical-conversation-precisely-timed-series-interventions-lead). American Scientist. 2016;104(4):228–235. Grinthal A, Noorduin W, Aizenberg J. [A Constructive Chemical Conversation](/publications/constructive-chemical-conversation-precisely-timed-series-interventions-lead). American Scientist. 2016;104(4):228–235. - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](http://dx.doi.org/10.1511/2016.121.228) Using simple ingredients and processing, the authors discuss how they create vastly complex three-dimensional structures that assemble themselves. - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](http://dx.doi.org/10.1511/2016.121.228) - Previous page chevron\_left - [1](?page=0%2C0 "Current page") - [2](?page=1%2C0 "Go to page 2") - [3](?page=2%2C0 "Go to page 3") - [ Next page chevron\_right ](?page=1%2C0 "Go to next page")