Formation of a single quasicrystal upon collision of multiple grains

Insung Han, Kelly L. Wang, Andrew T. Cadotte, Zhucong Xi, Hadi Parsamehr, Xianghui Xiao, Sharon C. Glotzer () and Ashwin J. Shahani ()
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Insung Han: University of Michigan
Kelly L. Wang: University of Michigan
Andrew T. Cadotte: Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan
Zhucong Xi: University of Michigan
Hadi Parsamehr: University of Michigan
Xianghui Xiao: National Synchrotron Light Source-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Sharon C. Glotzer: University of Michigan
Ashwin J. Shahani: University of Michigan

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Quasicrystals exhibit long-range order but lack translational symmetry. When grown as single crystals, they possess distinctive and unusual properties owing to the absence of grain boundaries. Unfortunately, conventional methods such as bulk crystal growth or thin film deposition only allow us to synthesize either polycrystalline quasicrystals or quasicrystals that are at most a few centimeters in size. Here, we reveal through real-time and 3D imaging the formation of a single decagonal quasicrystal arising from a hard collision between multiple growing quasicrystals in an Al-Co-Ni liquid. Through corresponding molecular dynamics simulations, we examine the underlying kinetics of quasicrystal coalescence and investigate the effects of initial misorientation between the growing quasicrystalline grains on the formation of grain boundaries. At small misorientation, coalescence occurs following rigid rotation that is facilitated by phasons. Our joint experimental-computational discovery paves the way toward fabrication of single, large-scale quasicrystals for novel applications.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-26070-9

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26070-9

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