Frustrated self-assembly of non-Euclidean crystals of nanoparticles

Francesco Serafin, Jun Lu, Nicholas Kotov, Kai Sun and Xiaoming Mao ()
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Francesco Serafin: University of Michigan
Jun Lu: University of Michigan
Nicholas Kotov: University of Michigan
Kai Sun: University of Michigan
Xiaoming Mao: University of Michigan

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Self-organized complex structures in nature, e.g., viral capsids, hierarchical biopolymers, and bacterial flagella, offer efficiency, adaptability, robustness, and multi-functionality. Can we program the self-assembly of three-dimensional (3D) complex structures using simple building blocks, and reach similar or higher level of sophistication in engineered materials? Here we present an analytic theory for the self-assembly of polyhedral nanoparticles (NPs) based on their crystal structures in non-Euclidean space. We show that the unavoidable geometrical frustration of these particle shapes, combined with competing attractive and repulsive interparticle interactions, lead to controllable self-assembly of structures of complex order. Applying this theory to tetrahedral NPs, we find high-yield and enantiopure self-assembly of helicoidal ribbons, exhibiting qualitative agreement with experimental observations. We expect that this theory will offer a general framework for the self-assembly of simple polyhedral building blocks into rich complex morphologies with new material capabilities such as tunable optical activity, essential for multiple emerging technologies.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-25139-9

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25139-9

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