Supramolecular Materials

Abstract

This issue of MRS Bulletin is devoted to the subject of supramolecular materials. The term supramolecular is widely used to describe the intentional use of noncovalent interactions to bring about a desired arrangement of molecules. As the articles in this issue illustrate, this type of molecular engineering can provide structural control on the nanoscale and beyond, broadly impacting the properties of the resulting materials. The goal is to create a collection of molecules in which the whole possesses characteristics that are different and unattainable from the individual components.