Programmable self-assembly of magnetic handshake materials*

An outstanding intellectual problem in nanoscience is the programmable self-assembly of smart, digital, and mechanically functional structures [1]. We propose to combine magnetic patterning with the design principles of molecular biology for programmable self-assembly. To be specific, we harness magnetic forces from (i) panels with a 2 x2 pattern of magnetic domains so they bond together using specific, intelligent, interactions, analogous to Watson-Crick base pairs in DNA, and (ii) create programmed global structures, from assembly of magnetically patterned panels as well as strands that link these encoded panels in specific sequences. As a first step towards microscopic machines, we build macroscopic prototypes for proof-of-principle demonstration of information storage capability and programmable self-assembly of magnetic handshake materials.


References
[1] “Programmable self-assembly,” Ludovico Cademartiri and Kyle J. M. Bishop, Nature Materials 14, 2–9 (2015).