Self-assembly under continuous flow conditions

Abstract

Self-assembly plays a crucial role in the formation of hierarchical supramolecular structures and functional materials. The use of flow chemistry for self-assembly processes has garnered significant attention due to its enhanced ability to control the formation of complex molecular and nanoscale architectures. Compared to conventional batch processes, flow-based systems offer improved regulation of key reaction parameters, such as mixing dynamics, temperature gradients, and residence time, facilitating continuous and scalable synthesis. This review examines recent advances in self-assembly under flow conditions, highlighting advantages in four domains: scalable production, opportunities to control selectivity, improved product crystallinity, and precise regulation of size and morphology in particle formation. Selected case studies from the literature, including our work in this field, will be discussed to demonstrate that flow-based technology is valuable for the fabrication of supramolecular structures and represents a promising approach for advanced materials science.