Living self-organizing systems operate far-from-equilibrium and maintain functions by constant energy dissipation in adaptive steady states, and are orchestrated through feedback loops to allow tailored response in complex sensory landscapes. In man-made self-assemblies we have mastered to a large extent near-equilibrium structure formation in space, and have gained an increasing understanding to construct very complex, hierarchically structured soft matter with responsive properties. This has allowed to create materials with advanced functionalities and switchability, inaccessible without sophisticated nano- and mesostructuration and delicate control over molecular interactions. Some of the next steps in self-assembling systems are to approach multicomponent co-assembling systems, and to master temporal behavior as well as complex adaptation mechanisms. The latter require new types of internal control mechanisms, such as kinetic control over opposing reactions (built-up/destruction), the integration of feedback mechanisms, or the use of energy dissipation to sustain structures only as long as a chemical fuel is available. This ultimately goes along with a transition towards out-of-equilibrium complex systems, in which multiple components self-assemble dynamically in a non-linear and adaptive fashion. In this talk I will present two conceptual pathways towards out-of-equilibrium systems, (i) driven environments and (ii) driven structures, which allow to program self-assemblies and materials with lifetimes and programmable steady state dynamics using feedback mechanisms and conversion dynamics of chemical fuels. This will be showcased for different self-assembling systems (polymers, peptides, DNA), and the connection to hydrogels and photonic materials demonstrates possibilities for new horizons in materials science.

Programming lifecycles and dynamics in chemically powered out-of-equilibrium self-assemblies

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

[Author Benefits](https://scimeetings.acs.org/?utm_source=pubs_content_marketing&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=0320_MCF_NPI_Launch_Spring_Homepage&ref=pubs_content_marketing)

[How to use SciMeetings](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMeetings-ACSSpring2020-HowToGuide_M3020-Final.pdf)

[Frequently Asked Questions](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMtng_ACSNMSp2020_FAQ_M3120_Final.pdf)

ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.