Self-assembled one-dimensional soft nanostructures

The self-assembly process is a bottom-up approach and is the spontaneous aggregation of many different subunits into well-defined functional structures with varying properties. Self-assembly is an attractive method to develop one-dimensional nanostructures and is controlled by many factors including temperature, pH and electrolyte addition. Novel self-assembled one-dimensional nanostructures are finding applications in regenerative medicine and electronics as well as in fabrication of nanoscale electronic, mechanic, magnetic, optical, and combinatorial devices. Their utility comes from their high ratio of surface area to volume, and their quantum-confinement effects. This paper reviews one-dimensional self-assembled organic nanostructures classified according to the non-covalent forces acting on their formation. © 2010 The Royal Society of Chemistry