Structure-activity collective properties underlying self-assembled superstructures

Abstract The structure-activity relationship is a universal principle in nature that relates the structure of a material to its physiochemical properties and behaviors. A classic example of this relationship involves elemental carbon, which exhibits unique properties derived from different atomic arrangements (e.g., diamond, graphite, fullerene, carbon nanotube, and graphene). Nanoparticles also demonstrate this principle because they can effectively serve as artificial atoms that self-assemble into superstructures. These superstructures naturally obey the structure-activity relationship and can be adjusted by regulation of various structural parameters. Additionally, the self-assembled superstructures have collective properties that significantly differ from the properties of original monodisperse particles and bulk materials. Thus, customized functional materials can be designed according to the structure-activity collective properties of these superstructures to create nanodevices with the desired physical and chemical properties. In this review, we discuss the influences of structural parameters, such as particle spacing, size distribution, lattice structure, and order degree, on the properties of superstructures. The application statuses of self-assembly materials are then presented from the perspectives of various scientific and engineering fields (e.g., optics, electrics, catalysis, and biomedicine), along with future development prospects.