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SUMMARY:Colloidal Quasicrystals: How Entropy can lead to Forbidden Symmetr
 ies - Dr Laura Filion\, University of Utrecht
DTSTART:20241120T143000Z
DTEND:20241120T153000Z
UID:TALK216412@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Lisa Masters
DESCRIPTION:Quasicrystals are one of the most intriguing phases in classic
 al matter. Defying the normal constraint of periodicity that applies to no
 rmal crystal structures\, they can exhibit rotational symmetries that are 
 forbidden for periodic crystals\, e.g. 10-\, 12-\, 18-\, 20-fold symmetrie
 s. These symmetries can be easily recognized in their diffraction patterns
  -- and it is this characteristic that led to their original discovery by 
 Dan Shechtman in 1984. While quasicrystals were first found in atomic syst
 ems\, they have since been found in a  growing number of soft-matter syste
 ms\, including nanoparticles\, polymers\, and micelles. How simple can a s
 ystem be and still exhibit such an atypical\, complex phase?  Why does suc
 h a phase form in the first place?  In this talk I will address these ques
 tions\, and many others regarding the appearance of quasicrystals in soft 
 matter. In particular\, I will show how even a simple system of hard spher
 es can be designed to form quasicrystals. I will discuss the huge importan
 ce of entropy in their stabilization\, and end the talk by delving into th
 e appearance of point defects in these systems – and introducing new sim
 ulation methods that will help us address them.
LOCATION:Unilever Lecture Theatre\, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry
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