Patent ID: 8093494

Claim:
A process for producing sub-micron sized asymmetric structures, comprising: depositing a self-assembled monolayer onto a substrate, wherein an available surface of the self-assembled monolayer has an affinity for binding to a nanocrystal surface; contacting the available surface with a colloidal solution of nanocrystals to form a nanocrystal layer on the monolayer, wherein the nanocrystals are selected from the group consisting of Group II-VI, Group II-V, Group III-VI, Group III-V, Group I-III-VI, Group II-IV-VI, and Group II-IV-V compounds; depositing a protective polymer layer, the protective polymer layer covering a first portion of the nanocrystals, leaving a second portion of the nanocrystals exposed; and performing a functionalizing reaction on the second portion of the nanocrystals, to form asymmetric functionalized nanocrystals, wherein the functionalizing comprises treating the exposed second portion of nanocrystals with hexanedithiol to form hexanedithiol modified nanocrystals, and binding a material to the hexanedithiol modified nanocrystals, the material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal cluster, a polymer, an insulator, a semiconductor, a chelate and combinations thereof, thereby producing sub micron sized asymmetric structures.