self-assembly
Components arrange themselves
Self-assembly is the process by which components spontaneously organize into ordered structures without external direction.
In biology, proteins self-assemble into complex molecules; in manufacturing, nanoscale materials self-assemble into functional devices.
The term implies that organization emerges from the properties of the parts themselves: The virus capsid forms through self-assembly of identical protein subunits.
Self-assembly furniture requires the buyer to put it together, though this stretches the "spontaneous" sense considerably.
Ultrafine material fragments
- nanofabricationCreating nanometer-scale structures
- bottom-upStarting from fundamentals
- nanoscaleBillionth-meter dimension
- nanostructuresAtomic-scale engineered arrangements
nanobots · photonics · nanomanufacturing · top-down · directed · programmable
Disassembled goods for self-assembly
- IKEASwedish home-goods chain
- instructionsGuidance on how to proceed
- DIYAmateur home projects
- kitGrouped supplies, one purpose
modular · components · parts · shelving · bookcase · desk · wardrobe · particleboard
Forming ordered solid structure
- aggregationCombined collection of items
- nucleationInitial cluster formation
- polymerizationMonomers bonding into chains
- emergenceComing into existence
equilibrium · thermodynamic · kinetic · templating · annealing · precipitation · ordering · spontaneous
Life from inanimate matter
- prebioticNutrient for gut bacteria
- panspermiaLife spreads via space rocks
- primordialExisting from the start
- hydrothermalHot water underground
Chain-forming molecule
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
- micelleSurfactant molecular cluster
- vesicleSmall fluid-filled sac
- hydrophobicRepels aqueous substances
hydrophilic · phospholipid · peptide · host-guest · hydrogen-bonding · ligand · macromolecule · copolymer
Internal protein support structure
- membraneThin tissue sheet
- biofilmAdhesive layer of microorganisms
- ribosomeProtein synthesis site
- chromatinNuclear protein-wrapped genetic material
collagen · actin · tubulin · organelle · fibril · scaffold · morphogenesis · hierarchical
Mass of moving insects
- reconfigurableAble to be rearranged
- autonomousSelf-directed and free
- distributedDivided and given out
- collectiveJointly organized group
kinematics · actuator · sensor · microrobot · coordination
nanoparticles
Ultrafine material fragments
- nanofabricationCreating nanometer-scale structures
- bottom-upStarting from fundamentals
- nanoscaleBillionth-meter dimension
nanostructures · nanobots · photonics · nanomanufacturing · top-down · directed · programmable
flatpack
Disassembled goods for self-assembly
- IKEASwedish home-goods chain
- instructionsGuidance on how to proceed
- DIYAmateur home projects
kit · modular · components · parts · shelving · bookcase · desk · wardrobe · particleboard · dowel
crystallization
Forming ordered solid structure
- aggregationCombined collection of items
- nucleationInitial cluster formation
- polymerizationMonomers bonding into chains
emergence · equilibrium · thermodynamic · kinetic · templating · annealing · precipitation · ordering · spontaneous · autonomous
abiogenesis
Life from inanimate matter
- prebioticNutrient for gut bacteria
- panspermiaLife spreads via space rocks
- primordialExisting from the start
monomer
Chain-forming molecule
hydrophobic · hydrophilic · phospholipid · peptide · host-guest · hydrogen-bonding · ligand · macromolecule · copolymer · folding
cytoskeleton
Internal protein support structure
chromatin · collagen · actin · tubulin · organelle · fibril · scaffold · morphogenesis · hierarchical
swarm
Mass of moving insects
- reconfigurableAble to be rearranged
- autonomousSelf-directed and free
- distributedDivided and given out
collective · kinematics · actuator · sensor · microrobot · coordination
- coatingspaint, enamel, varnish, primer, glaze
- nanotechnologynanoparticles, carbon nanotube, nanobots, carbon nanotubes, nanorobots
- Supramolecular Chemistryencapsulation, capsule, receptor, binding site, hydrogen bonding
- capsidscoat protein, hexamer, subunit
- Nanoelectronicsnanoelectronics, nanowires, carbon nanotubes, molecular switches, nanofabrication
- nanophysicsquantum dots, nanowires, nanotubes, nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes
self-assemblyready-made
Prepared in advance, standardized
ready-to-use · turnkey · off-the-shelf · assembled · out-of-the-box
self, assemble, assembly, assembled, disassemble, assemblage, reassemble, assembles, selfhood