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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Dec 1.
Published in final edited form as: Nano Lett. 2009 Dec;9(12):4049–4052. doi: 10.1021/nl9022176

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Schematic diagram showing the concept behind the self-assembly process. (a) Patterned panels with binding sites that interact without constraints are unlikely to self-assemble into cubes. (b) Joining panels to form nets limits the possible interactions and allows them to assemble correctly to form a nanocube. (c) Self-assembly is driven by the reflow of tin (Sn) within the hinges of the net; the panel angular orientation needed for self-assembly is derived from the force that is generated when the reflowed hinges minimize their surface area.