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US 6,507,989 B1Granted
Self-assembly of mesoscale objects
AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsNed B. Bowden, Andreas W. Terfort, Jeffrey D. Carbeck, George M. Whitesides
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Self-assembling systems include component articles that can be pinned at a fluid/fluid interface, or provided in a fluid, or provided in proximity of a surface, and caused to self-assemble optionally via agitation. A self-assembling electrical circuit is provided.
Claims22
A method of self-assembly comprising:
- providing a first component article having a maximum dimension, a total surface area, and a first mating surface and a second component article having a maximum dimension, a total surface area, and a second mating surface that matches the first mating surface, the first and second mating surfaces each defining an area equal to at least one percent of the lesser of the total surface areas of the first and second component articles, the first and second component articles separated by a distance at least equal to {fraction (1/100)} of the maximum dimension of the first or second component article;
- chemically modifying the first and second mating surfaces such that the chemical modification provides better wetting of the mating surfaces;
- and
- without applying a net external force to either of the first and second component articles, and under set conditions, allowing the first mating surface to fasten to the second mating surface irreversibly under the set conditions thereby forming a composite article of the first and second component articles.
1 more element
A method as in claim, 12, wherein the chemical modifying results in mating surfaces that are not permanently bonded to each other.
A method comprising:
- providing a first component article having a maximum dimension, a total surface area, a first mating surface, and a remainder surface and a second component article having a maximum dimension, a total surface area, a second mating surface that matches the first mating surface, and a remainder surface, the first and second mating surfaces each being compatible with the other and being incompatible with the remainder surfaces and the first and second component articles separated by a distance at least equal to {fraction (1/100)}th of the maximum dimension of the first or second component article;
- chemically modifying the first and second mating surfaces, such that the chemical modification provides better wetting of the mating surfaces;
- and
- without applying a net external force to either of the first and second component articles, and under set conditions, allowing the first mating surface to fasten to the second mating surface irreversibly under the set conditions thereby forming a composite article.
1 more element
A self-assembly method comprising:
- providing a first component article having a dimension of at least 150 nm, a total surface area, and a first mating surface and a second component article having a dimension of at least 150 nm, a total surface area, and a second mating surface that matches the first mating surface, the first and second mating surfaces each defining an area equal to at least one percent of the lesser of the total surface areas of the first and second component articles;
- chemically modifying the first and second mating surfaces such that the chemical modification provides better wetting of the mating surfaces;
- and
- without applying a net external force to either of the first and second component articles, allowing the first mating surface to fasten to the second mating surface thereby connecting the first and second component articles to form a composite article.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.