METHOD OF COMPONENT ASSEMBLY ON A SUBSTRATE

1 . A method of component assembly on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a free-standing component having an optical characteristic;

providing a pattern of a first binding species on the substrate or the free standing component; and

forming a bound component on the substrate through a binding interaction via the first binding species;

wherein the bound component exhibits substantially the same optical characteristic compared to the free-standing component.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the forming of the bound component comprises applying the free-standing component to the substrate for establishing the binding interaction via the first binding species, and removing portions of the free-standing component unbound via the first binding species such that the pattern of the first binding species is transferred to the formed bound component.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising providing a second binding species on the free-standing component or the substrate, and the binding interaction between the free-standing component and substrate is via the first binding species binding with the second binding species.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a further component formed thereon, and the at least a portion of the free-standing component is bound to a surface of the further component, and wherein the further component and the bound component from at least part of an integrated component.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the integrated component comprises an optical component.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising forming a material layer on the further component, the free-standing component, or both, such that the material layer is sandwiched between the further component and the bound component in the integrated component.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the material layer is chosen such that the integrated component exhibits a desired optical characteristic.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the material layer comprises at least the first binding species.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the substrate and the free-standing component are lattice mismatched.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a blocking species in areas not covered by the pattern of the first binding species, prior to forming the bound component on the substrate through the binding interaction via the first binding species, for enhancing the selectivity of the binding interaction.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first binding species is chosen such that the binding interaction comprises one or more of a group consisting of a biomolecular interaction, van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic/hydrophilic, metal coordination, electrostatics, and covalent bonding.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising:

forming two or more different free-standing components, each free-standing component having an optical characteristic;

providing respective patterns of two or more different first binding species on the substrate; and

providing different second binding species on the respective different free-standing components corresponding to the respective different first binding species,

forming respective bound components on the substrate through binding interactions between the different free-standing components and the different first binding species via the different corresponding second binding species;

wherein the bound components exhibit substantially the same respective optical characteristics compared to the corresponding free-standing components.

13 . An assembly comprising:

a substrate; and

a bound component assembled on the substrate through a binding interaction via a first binding species provided on the substrate or on a free-standing pre-form of the bound component;

wherein the bound component exhibits substantially a same optical characteristic compared to the free-standing pre-form.

14 . The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the bound component is a portion of the free-standing pre-form with other portions of the free-standing pre-form unbound via the first binding species removed.

15 . The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising a second binding species on the bound component or the substrate, and the binding interaction between the bound component and substrate is via the first binding species binding with the second binding species.

16 . The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the substrate comprises a further component formed thereon and the bound component is bound to a surface of the further component, and wherein the further component and the bound component from at least part of an integrated component.

17 . The assembly as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the integrated component comprises an optical component.

18 . The assembly as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising a material layer on the further component, the bound component, or both, such that the material layer is sandwiched between the further component and the bound component in the integrated component.

19 . The assembly as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the material layer is chosen such that the integrated component exhibits a desired optical characteristic.

20 . The assembly as claimed in claims 18 , wherein the material layer comprises at least the first binding species.

21 . The assembly as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the material layer comprises an organic material, and the further component and the bound component comprise inorganic materials.

22 . The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the substrate and the bound component are lattice mismatched.

23 . The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the substrate is flexible.

24 . The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein a lateral dimension of the bound component is in the range of nm to mm.

25 . The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , comprising:

respective patterns of two or more different first binding species on the substrate; and

different second binding species on respective different bound components corresponding to the respective different first binding species, the bound components being bound through binding interactions between the bound components and the different first binding species via the different corresponding second binding species;

wherein the bound components exhibit substantially the same respective optical characteristics compared to respective corresponding free-standing pre-forms of the different bound components.