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Forming quasicrystals by monodisperse soft core particles.

ABSTRACT: In traditional approaches to form quasicrystals, multiple competing length scales involved in particle size, shape, or interaction potential are believed to be necessary. It is unexpected that quasicrystals can be formed by monodisperse, isotropic particles interacting via a simple potential that does not contain explicit multiple length scales to stabilize quasicrystals. Here, we report the surprising finding of the formation of such quasicrystals in high-density systems of soft-core particles. Although there are length scales naturally introduced in our model systems, they do not establish the quasicrystalline order. In two dimensions, we find not only dodecagonal but also octagonal quasicrystals, which have not been found yet in soft quasicrystals. In such unexpected quasicrystals, particles tend to form pentagons, which are essential elements to develop the quasicrystalline order. Our findings thus pave an unexpected and simple way to form quasicrystals and pose a challenge for theoretical understanding of quasicrystals.

SUBMITTER: Zu M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5727032 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Forming quasicrystals by monodisperse soft core particles.

Zu Mengjie M Tan Peng P Tan Peng P Xu Ning N

Nature communications 20171212 1

In traditional approaches to form quasicrystals, multiple competing length scales involved in particle size, shape, or interaction potential are believed to be necessary. It is unexpected that quasicrystals can be formed by monodisperse, isotropic particles interacting via a simple potential that does not contain explicit multiple length scales to stabilize quasicrystals. Here, we report the surprising finding of the formation of such quasicrystals in high-density systems of soft-core particles. ...[more]

PMID: 29234039

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Project description:The preparation of ordered macroporous SiCN ceramics has attracted significant interest and is an attractive area for various applications, e.g., in the fields of catalysis, gas adsorption, or membranes. Non-oxidic ceramics, such as SiCN, own a great stability based on the covalent bonds between the containing elements, which leads to interesting properties concerning resistance and stability at high temperature. Their peculiar properties have become more and more important for a manifold of applications, like catalysis or separation processes, at high temperatures. Within this work, a feasible approach for the preparation of ordered porous materials by taking advantage of polymer-derived ceramics is presented. To gain access to free-standing films consisting of porous ceramic materials, the combination of monodisperse organic polymer-based colloids with diameters of 130 nm and 180 nm featuring a processable preceramic polymer is essential. For this purpose, the tailored design of hybrid organic/inorganic particles featuring anchoring sites for a preceramic polymer in the soft shell material is developed. Moreover, polymer-based core particles are used as sacrificial template for the generation of pores, while the preceramic shell polymer can be converted to the ceramic matrix after thermal treatment. Two different routes for the polymer particles, which can be obtained by emulsion polymerization, are followed for covalently linking the preceramic polysilazane Durazane1800 (Merck, Germany): (i) Free radical polymerization and (ii) atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) conditions. These hybrid hard core/soft shell particles can be processed via the so-called melt-shear organization for the one-step preparation of free-standing particle films. A major advantage of this technique is the absence of any solvent or dispersion medium, enabling the core particles to merge into ordered particle stacks based on the soft preceramic shell. Subsequent ceramization of the colloidal crystal films leads to core particle degradation and transformation into porous ceramics with ceramic yields of 18-54%.

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Forming quasicrystals by monodisperse soft core particles.

Publications

Forming quasicrystals by monodisperse soft core particles.

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