| The nanochemist requires a toolbox of nano "building blocks" to assemble and create useful structures with potential technological applications. From a choice of diverse building blocks, this thesis focuses on three promising ones: nanospheres, nanorods and nanorings and describes their synthesis as well as potential applications.; Silica and polystyrene nanospheres were synthesized and assembled into 2D & 3D micro-patterned colloidal crystal arrays using soft lithographic techniques. Non-destructive imaging of such crystals was performed using scanning electron microscopy (2D) and laser scanning confocal microscopy (3D) to probe external and internal defects respectively.; Metal, polymer and ceramic nanorods/nanowires were synthesized using nanochannel alumina templates. A new inexpensive all-synthetic technique was developed, using nanospheres to synthesize nanorods. The technique named nanosphere imprinted nanochannel alumina (NINA) allows the synthesis of highly ordered porous alumina films with uniform nanochannels of tunable dimensions and spacing for the synthesis of corresponding nanowires/nanorods. As well, all-synthetic nanomachines such as self-propelled nanorotors were described using bimetallic nanorods propelled with the power generated by the selective catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide at one nanowire end.; Polymer, metal, silica and ceramic nanoring arrays were synthesized using soft-lithographic techniques as well as selective dewetting. From the resulting ring arrays, square, rectangle or cross-shaped rings were fabricated using surface energy controlled viscous flow of polymers above their glass transition temperature. |
