Entropy-driven formation of large icosahedral colloidal clusters by spherical confinement

• Published in: Nature materials Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 56 - 60
• Main Authors: de Nijs, Bart, Dussi, Simone, Smallenburg, Frank, Meeldijk, Johannes D., Groenendijk, Dirk J., Filion, Laura, Imhof, Arnout, van Blaaderen, Alfons, Dijkstra, Marjolein
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.01.2015; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/766/119/1002; 639/925/357/354; Biomaterials; Clusters; Colloids; Condensed Matter Physics; Confinement; Crystallization; Crystals; Entropy; Formations; Icosahedral phase; letter; Long range order; Materials Science; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials

Experiments with colloidal nano- and microparticles and computer simulations show that, unexpectedly, confinement and entropy are sufficient for the formation of icosahedral crystalline clusters of up to about 100,000 particles. Icosahedral symmetry, which is not compatible with truly long-range ord...