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Updated: Apr 28, 2026
08:07
Ultrahigh Density Array of Vertically Aligned Small-molecular Organic Nanowires on Arbitrary Substrates
Published on: June 18, 2013
14.3K
Nanowires and nanostructures that grow like polymer molecules
Santosh Shaw1, Ludovico Cademartiri
1Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, 2220 Hoover Hall, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|June 25, 2013
Summary
Crystals can exhibit polymer-like properties, such as elasticity and folding, by mimicking polymerization during growth. This research explores similarities between crystallization and polymerization to synthesize novel anisotropic materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Crystallography
Background:
- Polymer molecules possess unique properties like elasticity and viscoelasticity due to their morphology and flexibility.
- Crystals typically lack these properties due to rigidity, smaller aspect ratios, and colloidal instability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if limitations in crystal properties are fundamental or can be overcome.
- To explore the potential for crystals to exhibit polymer-like behaviors.
- To propose guidelines for synthesizing "polymer-like" crystals.
Main Methods:
- Reviewing similarities between crystallization and polymerization processes.
- Critically evaluating experimental evidence of polymer-like kinetics and behavior in crystals and nanostructures.
- Developing heuristic guidelines for synthesizing anisotropic materials.
Main Results:
- Recent experimental studies suggest crystal limitations are not fundamental.
- Evidence supports polymer-like growth kinetics and behavior in certain crystals and nanostructures.
- Guidelines for synthesizing "polymer-like" crystals and assemblies are proposed.
Conclusions:
- Crystals can potentially achieve polymer-like properties by mimicking polymerization.
- Understanding anisotropic materials bridges the gap between molecular and solid states.
- This approach could expand material properties beyond size tuning to include topology and dynamics.
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