Researchers gain control over internal structure of self-assembled composite materials
(PHYSorg.com Chemistry)

Composites made from self-assembling inorganic materials are valued for their unique strength and thermal, optical and magnetic properties. However, because self-assembly can be difficult to control, the structures formed can be highly disordered, leading to defects during large-scale production. Researchers at the University of Illinois and the University of Michigan have developed a templating technique that instills greater order and gives rise to new 3-D structures in a special class of materials, called eutectics, to form new, high-performance materials.