Noncovalent self-assembly in aqueous medium: Mechanistic insights from time-resolved cryogenic electron microscopy

► Mechanistic understanding is necessary for rational design of novel self-assembled materials. ► Strong noncovalent interactions may impose kinetic control in self-assembly processes. ► Water can impose strong hydrophobic interactions that may slow self-assembly kinetics. ► Time-resolved cryo-TEM is crucial for mechanistic studies of self-assembly processes.