3. Self-assembled systems

Thanks to the near-field microscopy techniques described above, it is possible to observe, manipulate and even control chemical reactions molecule by molecule. While this improves understanding of the phenomena involved, this approach cannot be envisaged for applications requiring a large number (10 ¹⁵ ) of nano-objects of identical size, shape and properties. To move in this direction, researchers are working on self-assembling systems designed to promote, without human intervention, the spontaneous organization of molecules. This mode of organization became known as "supramolecular chemistry" and earned Cram, Perdersen and Lehn the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1987.

On the surface, it's easy to understand that two types of interactions will be predominant in the evolution of the self-assembly phenomenon: molecule/molecule...