An overview is given of theoretical progress on self-organization at the
nanoscale in reactive systems of heterogeneous catalysis observed by field
emission microscopy techniques and at the molecular scale in copolymerization
processes. The results are presented in the perspective of recent advances in
nonequilibrium thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, allowing us to
understand how nanosystems driven away from equilibrium can manifest
directionality and dynamical order.Comment: A. S. Mikhailov and G. Ertl, Editors, Proceedings of the
International Conference "Engineering of Chemical Complexity", Berlin Center
for Studies of Complex Chemical Systems, 4-8 July 201