Direct observation of phase transitions in truncated tetrahedral microparticles under quasi-2D confinement
Abstract Colloidal crystals are used to understand fundamentals of atomic rearrangements in condensed matter and build complex metamaterials with unique functionalities. Simulations predict a multitude of self-assembled crystal structures from anisotropic colloids, but these shapes have been challen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46230-x |
| _version_ | 1797233433685000192 |
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| author | David Doan John Kulikowski X. Wendy Gu |
| author_facet | David Doan John Kulikowski X. Wendy Gu |
| author_sort | David Doan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Colloidal crystals are used to understand fundamentals of atomic rearrangements in condensed matter and build complex metamaterials with unique functionalities. Simulations predict a multitude of self-assembled crystal structures from anisotropic colloids, but these shapes have been challenging to fabricate. Here, we use two-photon lithography to fabricate Archimedean truncated tetrahedrons and self-assemble them under quasi-2D confinement. These particles self-assemble into a hexagonal phase under an in-plane gravitational potential. Under additional gravitational potential, the hexagonal phase transitions into a quasi-diamond two-unit basis. In-situ imaging reveal this phase transition is initiated by an out-of-plane rotation of a particle at a crystalline defect and causes a chain reaction of neighboring particle rotations. Our results provide a framework of studying different structures from hard-particle self-assembly and demonstrates the ability to use confinement to induce unusual phases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:16:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-02252e282a0141158e5ae317dbf98ac4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:16:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-02252e282a0141158e5ae317dbf98ac42024-03-31T11:25:09ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-03-0115111010.1038/s41467-024-46230-xDirect observation of phase transitions in truncated tetrahedral microparticles under quasi-2D confinementDavid Doan0John Kulikowski1X. Wendy Gu2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford UniversityAbstract Colloidal crystals are used to understand fundamentals of atomic rearrangements in condensed matter and build complex metamaterials with unique functionalities. Simulations predict a multitude of self-assembled crystal structures from anisotropic colloids, but these shapes have been challenging to fabricate. Here, we use two-photon lithography to fabricate Archimedean truncated tetrahedrons and self-assemble them under quasi-2D confinement. These particles self-assemble into a hexagonal phase under an in-plane gravitational potential. Under additional gravitational potential, the hexagonal phase transitions into a quasi-diamond two-unit basis. In-situ imaging reveal this phase transition is initiated by an out-of-plane rotation of a particle at a crystalline defect and causes a chain reaction of neighboring particle rotations. Our results provide a framework of studying different structures from hard-particle self-assembly and demonstrates the ability to use confinement to induce unusual phases.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46230-x |
| spellingShingle | David Doan John Kulikowski X. Wendy Gu Direct observation of phase transitions in truncated tetrahedral microparticles under quasi-2D confinement Nature Communications |
| title | Direct observation of phase transitions in truncated tetrahedral microparticles under quasi-2D confinement |
| title_full | Direct observation of phase transitions in truncated tetrahedral microparticles under quasi-2D confinement |
| title_fullStr | Direct observation of phase transitions in truncated tetrahedral microparticles under quasi-2D confinement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Direct observation of phase transitions in truncated tetrahedral microparticles under quasi-2D confinement |
| title_short | Direct observation of phase transitions in truncated tetrahedral microparticles under quasi-2D confinement |
| title_sort | direct observation of phase transitions in truncated tetrahedral microparticles under quasi 2d confinement |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46230-x |
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