Researchers from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the University of Sheffield, and Xi'an Jiaotong University have made an extraordinary discovery – an uncommon quasicrystal with a dodecagonal honeycomb structure that has never been observed before in liquid form. Quasicrystals have a unique structure that distinguishes them from regular crystals, as the components do not fit together in a periodic pattern. This distinct structure gives quasicrystals exceptional properties not found in regular crystals.
The newly found quasicrystal is composed of dodecagons that are made up of a blend of triangular, square, and trapezoidal cells that are formed through the self-assembly of “T-shaped” molecules. According to Professor Carsten Tschierske at MLU, this is the first time that a liquid quasicrystal with perfect order has ever been discovered.
The team's study also offers new insights into the development of these extraordinary structures. Previously, it was thought that quasicrystals' stability was due to an increase in entropy that resulted from the breaking of rigid periodic tessellation rules. However, the researchers discovered that the stability of this particular quasicrystal may be due to energy minimization in the ideal quasicrystalline order.
The potential uses of these new liquid quasicrystals are promising, according to the researchers. They may be used in the production of practical self-assembling and self-healing materials in the future, which could be applied in fields like optics and electronics. The materials have the potential to create innovative ways of manipulating light and charge carriers.