Modeling Self-Assembly

This unit uses a magnetically mediated self-assembly process of polystyrene hexagons to introduce students to the concept of self assembly. By carrying out the activities outlined, students will:
• Demonstrate effect of different variables applied to a self assembling system in the macro scale and their correlations to nanoscale phenomena
• Simulate hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions in a particle using magnetic forces
• Create complex structures through the simple repeated programming of subunits