Synthesis of shaped particles and particle arrays by disassembly methods

This article highlights methods of producing uniform, shaped nanoparticles and one-dimensional, two-dimensional and three-dimensional arrays of these by disassembly techniques. An extended network is prepared by holography, colloidal crystal templating or templating with surfactants or block copolymers. This continuous structure is cleaved at weak connection points through internal or external forces, producing uniformly shaped particles and arrays of these, which provide a kit of potential building blocks for other extended structures composed of nanoparticles.