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Nature Nanotechnology 3, 185–186 (1 April 2008) | doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.79

Surface patterning: Silicon falls into line

Stacey F. Bent

Nature uses self-assembly processes to construct large functional structures — such as cell membranes, protein aggregates and the DNA double helix — from relatively small molecular building blocks. Self-assembly also offers an attractive bottom-up approach for forming complex nanostructures that may pave the way for new technologies.