Nanoparticles: Scaffolds and building blocks

Nanoparticles provide key tools for bridging the gap between bottom-up synthetic methods and top-down fabrication. In this Account we describe some of the unique structural aspects of nanoparticles and the use of these attributes to the creation of devices with tunable specificity and environmental response. We also explore the use of nanoparticles as building blocks for the creation of nanocomposite materials that feature structural control from the molecular to the micron scale.