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The Many Ways to Assemble Nanoparticles Using Light
Author(s) -
Bian Tong,
Chu Zonglin,
Klajn Rafal
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201905866
Subject(s) - materials science , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , polymer , drug delivery , monolayer , plasmon , plasmonic nanoparticles , micrometer , optoelectronics , optics , physics , composite material
The ability to reversibly assemble nanoparticles using light is both fundamentally interesting and important for applications ranging from reversible data storage to controlled drug delivery. Here, the diverse approaches that have so far been developed to control the self‐assembly of nanoparticles using light are reviewed and compared. These approaches include functionalizing nanoparticles with monolayers of photoresponsive molecules, placing them in photoresponsive media capable of reversibly protonating the particles under light, and decorating plasmonic nanoparticles with thermoresponsive polymers, to name just a few. The applicability of these methods to larger, micrometer‐sized particles is also discussed. Finally, several perspectives on further developments in the field are offered.