Crystal tectonics: Chemical construction and self-organization beyond the unit cell

Crystal tectonics involves the chemical-based construction and self-assembl y of organized materials from solid-state building blocks, such as inorgani c nanoparticles. This Perspective describes, through a series of examples, how the architectural complexity of materials with higher-order structure c an be controlled by organic templating, interparticle molecular recognition and mesophase transformation. It is shown how the coupling of synthesis an d self-assembly over multiple length scales is leading to new horizons in t he chemistry of organized matter.