Functional Nano-Networks

A major promise of nanoscience is to assemble nanostructures such as quantum dots, quantum wires, nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes into networks with well-defined functionalities, primarily using molecular bottom-up fabrication techniques. The general strategy of the groups from LMU and TUM involved in this research area is to enhance the functionality of isolated nanostructures by combining them into connected networks that will feature new levels of performance such as amplification, light emission, logic operations, or a combination of sensing and information processing. The extremely small size of the resulting nano-networks will also enable applications in biological systems such as cells. The nanoscale building blocks studied here comprise self-assembled molecules on surfaces, metal clusters and semiconductor core-shell nanoparticles, segmented nanorods and carbon nanotubes, as well as molecular nanowires and functionalized DNA. The communication between these building blocks will be achieved through complementary molecular interactions on surfaces and in three dimensions, through self-assembly on electrode patterns defined via nano-lithography, through the assembly of building blocks along DNA-backbones and through field coupling. A strong theoretical effort is aimed at developing a common description and understanding of the resulting diverse nano-networks and at identifying architectures and system applications best suited for such novel nanosystems. The results obtained here will benefit several other research areas of the NIM Cluster.