Condensed Matter Seminars

Physics, Institute of Molecular Biophysics, and Center for Materials Research and Technology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306 Recent dramatic progress of nanotechnology and biological science allows us to combine organic molecules (e.g. biomolecules, self-assembled monolayer etc.) with solid state nanostructures (e.g. metal nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, microfabricated circuits etc.) to build a generation of new hybrid nanoscale devices. These include nanoscale biological sensors and protein motor-based nanomechanical systems. One promising nano-manufacturing method for these hybrid devices is the surface-templated assembly process. In this strategy, direct deposition methods such as dip-pen nanolithography are utilized to functionalize the desired solid substrate area with organic molecules, and nanostructures (e.g. carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles, proteins etc.) in the solution are specifically assembled onto the functionalized area via molecular recognition mechanism. In this presentation, we will discuss about 1) new properties of hybrid nanostructures and 2) important scientific issues related with the surface-templated assembly process.