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Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Origami Inspired Self-assembly of Patterned and Reconfigurable Particles

Origami Inspired Self-assembly of Patterned and Reconfigurable Particles

Published on: February 4, 2013

Self-Assembly of Patchy Particles.

Zhenli Zhang¹, Sharon C Glotzer¹

¹Departments of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2136.

|October 20, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Patchy particles self-assemble into diverse structures like chains and sheets. Precise patch design controls particle arrangement and assembly, enabling fabrication of complex structures.

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Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides

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Published on: November 21, 2013

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Physical Chemistry
Computational Chemistry

Background:

Self-assembly is a fundamental process in nature and materials science.
Controlling self-assembly requires designing building blocks with specific interaction properties.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the self-assembly of particles with discrete interaction sites ('patches').
To explore how surface patch design influences the resulting structures.
To understand the thermodynamic transitions governing self-assembly.

Main Methods:

Utilizing molecular simulations to model particle interactions.
Designing various surface patch patterns on spherical particles.
Analyzing the emergent structures and phase transitions.

Main Results:

Formation of diverse structures including chains, sheets, rings, icosahedra, and more.
Two-dimensional sheets and icosahedra form via first-order transitions.
Chains form via continuous transitions, similar to equilibrium polymerization.
Patch selectivity dictates particle positioning and assembly outcomes.

Conclusions:

Patchy particles offer precise control over self-assembly.
Tailored surface patterns enable the fabrication of complex, ordered structures.
Patchy particles represent a novel class of building blocks for advanced materials.