Fueling dissipative self-assembly with non-invasive energy inputs

Dissipative self-assembly (DSA) enables the formation of transient, adaptive structures that persist only through continuous energy dissipation and operation far-from-thermodynamic equilibrium, mirroring the dynamic organization of living systems. In artificial systems, external energy inputs convert inactive precursors into high-energy building blocks that assemble through non-covalent interactions; while competing relaxation and deactivation processes drive disassembly, completing a dissipative cycle. Although many synthetic systems rely on invasive chemical fueling, such approaches often suffer from waste accumulation, limited spatiotemporal control, and poor compatibility with complex or biological environments. Remote and non-invasive stimuli offer a compelling alternative, allowing spatially resolved regulation of supramolecular organization without altering chemical composition. This Review summarizes advances in aqueous DSA driven by light, electrical fields, acoustic waves, and mechanical forces, and introduces a unifying framework based on activation, assembly, and deactivation. We highlight key design principles governing energy transduction, kinetic asymmetry, and spatiotemporal programmability, and discuss current limitations, including energy efficiency, scalability, and operational stability. Future developments in multi-stimuli integration, low-energy activation strategies, and bioinspired design are expected to advance DSA toward adaptive, programmable materials for catalysis, biomedicine, and soft robotics. • Remote, non-invasive energy inputs enable dissipative self-assembly in water. • Unified principles connect light-, electric-, magnetic-, mechanical-, and acoustic-driven systems. • Dynamic architectures arise from stimulus-driven activation coupled with competing deactivation pathways. • Highlights emerging applications in adaptive catalysis, soft robotics, and biomedical materials. • Key challenges include stimulus selectivity, lifetime control, and operation under physiological conditions. • Multi-stimuli and hierarchical systems offer pathways toward adaptive, bioinspired soft materials.