Crystal tectonics: Chemical construction and self-organization

Abstract

Crystal tectonics involves the chemical-based construction and self-assembly of organized materials from solid-state building blocks, such as inorganic nanoparticles. This Perspective describes, through a series of examples, how the architectural complexity of materials with higher-order structure can be controlled by organic templating, interparticle molecular recognition and mesophase transformation. It is shown how the coupling of synthesis and self-assembly over multiple length scales is leading to new horizons in the chemistry of organized matter.