Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2013, 14, 2303-2333; doi:10.3390/ijms14022303 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Molecular Sciences ISSN 1422-0067 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms Review Molecular Motions in Functional Self-Assembled Nanostructures Alexandre Dhotel 1,2, Ziguang Chen 2, Laurent Delbreilh 1, Boulos Youssef 1, Jean-Marc Saiter 1 and Li Tan 2,* 1 AMME–LECAP, EA4528, International Laboratory, Institut des Matériaux de Rouen, Université et INSA de Rouen, BP12, 76801 Saint Etienne du Rouvray Cedex, France; E-Mails:
[email protected] (A.D.);
[email protected] (L.D.);
[email protected] (B.Y.);
[email protected] (J.-M.S.) 2 AMME–A-TEAM, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; E-Mail:
[email protected] * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
[email protected]; Tel.: +1-402-472-4018. Received: 11 December 2012; in revised form: 11 January 2013 / Accepted: 11 January 2013 / Published: 24 January 2013 Abstract: The construction of “smart” materials able to perform specific functions at the molecular scale through the application of various stimuli is highly attractive but still challenging. The most recent applications indicate that the outstanding flexibility of self-assembled architectures can be employed as a powerful tool for the development of innovative molecular devices, functional surfaces and smart nanomaterials. Structural flexibility of these materials is known to be conferred by weak intermolecular forces involved in self-assembly strategies. However, some fundamental mechanisms responsible for conformational lability remain unexplored. Furthermore, the role played by stronger bonds, such as coordination, ionic and covalent bonding, is sometimes neglected while they can be employed readily to produce mechanically robust but also chemically reversible structures.