Template-directed assembly using nanoparticle building blocks: A nanotectonic approach to organized materials

There are a number of strategies available for extending the length scale o f structural organization in inorganic materials. Those that involve the as sembly of inorganic nanoparticles into materials with higher-order architec ture are collectively termed nanotectonics. In this review, we highlight on e possible approach that involves the template-directed assembly of preform ed nanoparticle building blocks. The inspiration for the use of preformed p articles arises in part from studies of certain biomineral structures, some general aspects of which are summarized. Several synthetic examples of the use of template-directed approaches in nanotectonics are described in deta il.