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An emerging concept, nanoarchitectonics, is supposed to work on the preparation of functional materials systems from nanoscale components. Because porphyrin derivatives show their importance in many research targets, discussions on nanoarchitectonics with porphyrins and related molecules would provide meaningful opportunities to consider effective usages of the nanoarchitectonics. This review article explains various examples of nanoarchitectonics approaches with porphyrin derivatives. The examples are especially focused on two topics: (i) materials nanoarchitectonics for nanofibers, metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, and hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks; (ii) interfacial nanoarchitectonics for surface monolayers (self-assembled monolayers), Langmuir-Blodgett films, and layer-by-layer assemblies. Functions and properties can be enhanced upon their organization in specific dimensions and arrangements in nanostructured frameworks. In many cases, interface-specific organization would lead to advanced performances with high efficiency and specificity. Even though only limited examples are described here, various possibilities are actually suggested. Not limited to porphyrin families, nanoarchitectonics for functional materials has to be considered with a wide range of materials.

Nanoarchitectonics is the methodology for the architecture of nano-units of atoms, molecules, and nanomaterials to create functional material systems. This will integrate nanotechnology with other fields such as organic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, material science, microfabrication technology, and bio-related sciences. Through this review, it is shown that nanoarchitectonics is important for the development of various functional materials. Porphyrins and their analogues are exemplified as important players in nanoarchitectonics strategies. The contents of this review can be briefly summarized as follows. First, recent examples of studies on porphyrins and their analogues, ranging from organic synthesis as basic research to biomedical applications as advanced usages, are presented. This demonstrates the broad utility of porphyrins as functional nano-units, from molecular nanoarchitectonics to material nanoarchitectonics. In subsequent sections, the organization and function of porphyrin assemblies by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method and layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly are described as examples of nanoarchitectonics at interfaces. The creation of functional materials through nanoarchitectonics is rich in possibilities. Conversely, the wide range of possibilities may make it difficult to easily design and control. Confine the system from free three-dimensional space to a two-dimensional field such as an interface, and design, creation, and evaluation may become easier. The nanoarchitectonics of functional structures in a two-dimensional plane are also advantageous in terms of functional expression. The use of interfacial environments is an extremely powerful tool for creating functional systems through nanoarchitectonics.