Magnetic handshake materials as a scale-invariant platform for programmed self-assembly
Abstract
Programmable self-assembly of smart, digital, and structurally complex materials from simple components remains a long-standing goal of material science. Here, we propose an assembly platform where information is encoded into building blocks using arrays of magnets that induce specific binding. Similar to current state-of-the-art platforms, magnetic encoding can achieve controlled polymerization of lone panels, complementary binding of panel strands, and 3D assembly of panel nets. This platform, however, has several advantages over current methods in that the approach is scale-invariant, has tunable mechanical strength, and has high information capacity for programmable self-assembly. We envision that this approach will lead to the formation of structures that transmit information, act as mechanical elements, or function as machines across length scales.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Nov 21, 2019
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1910332116
Entities
People
- Chrisy Xiyu Du
- Edward Esposito
- Itai Cohen
- Jakin Ng
- Michael P. Brenner
- Paul McEuen
- Ran Niu
Organizations
- Cornell University
- Harvard University
- National Science Foundation
- Office of Naval Research