Articles tagged with Colloidal Crystals
Researchers developed a simple and reversible method for forming crystals using light-sensitive molecules, allowing for precise control over particle attraction and repulsion. This enables the creation of adaptable materials with tunable properties, such as reconfigurable optical coatings and adaptive sensors.
Scientists create a porous silica microrod material that can form dense dispersions in nematic liquid crystals, overcoming the challenge of strong surface anchoring. This enables the reconfigurable self-assembly of micrometer-sized particles, opening up new possibilities for optical and biomedical applications.
Researchers discovered that exotic roto-crystals exhibit unusual properties, including easy fragmentation and controlled defects. They found that large crystals decay into smaller units and grow until reaching a critical size, counteracting normal crystal growth.
Scientists at Rice University develop a new method to align boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) in water using a common surfactant, creating ordered liquid crystalline phases. The discovery enables the production of transparent, robust films ideal for thermal management and structural reinforcement applications.
A team of scientists at Rice University discovered a phenomenon where tiny magnetic particles move along the edges of clusters driven by invisible 'edge currents'. This movement follows the rules of topological physics and has implications for designing responsive materials.
Researchers at New York University discovered a new crystal type called Zangenite, which has a hollow structure and unique properties. The crystal was found to form through a two-step process and has potential applications in developing new materials, including photonic bandgap materials.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a colloidal crystal model to control specific polymorph formation, advancing understanding of polymorph control for material fabrication and drug development. The study found that particle additives can effectively control polymorph formation and probability by size and cluster stability.
A team of researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz has developed a new method to study the interior of crystalline drops using monochromatic illumination. This approach exploits the color-dependent scattering of light and reveals the density profile of the drop, including initial rapid expansion due to particle repulsion befo...
Scientists develop locally periodic honeycomb structure with ordered but non-periodic arrangements, exhibiting properties distinct from usual periodic crystals. The study highlights the effectiveness of aperiodic approximants in inducing modulations within self-assembled soft-matter systems.
Researchers at New York University create a new method to see inside crystals, revealing the position of every unit and creating dynamic three-dimensional models. This technique allows scientists to study crystals' chemical history and form, paving the way for better crystal growth and photonic materials.
Scientists develop novel synthetic strategy to create highly ordered colloidal crystals using DNA as the bonding element. The approach enables the synthesis of 10 new crystals with potential for designing metamaterials with unprecedented properties.
Scientists at Mainz University and TU Darmstadt developed a method to write in water by utilizing microbeads that exchange ions for protons, altering local pH values. This allows ink particles to accumulate in specific areas, creating fine lines and patterns.
Scientists have successfully created a superlattice of lead sulfide semiconducting colloidal quantum dots that exhibits the electrical conducting properties of a metal. This breakthrough could lead to improved capabilities in devices such as solar cells, biological imaging, and quantum computing.
Researchers from Northwestern University have synthesized open-channel superlattices with pores ranging from 10 to 1,000 nanometers in size. The new findings will enable the use of these colloidal crystals in molecular absorption and storage, separations, chemical sensing, catalysis, and optical applications.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that colloidal crystals with DNA can change shape in response to external stimuli, exhibiting a 'shape memory' effect. The crystals can break down but then revert to their original state when water is added, making them useful for sensing and optics applications.
Researchers at TU Wien found that silicate nanoparticles can strengthen porous rock by forming colloidal crystals, which create new connections between mineral surfaces. The size of the particles is crucial for optimal strength gain, with smaller particles creating more binding sites.
A team of researchers from Rice University has modeled the dynamics of grain boundaries in polycrystalline materials using a rotating magnetic field technique. The study shows that grain boundaries can change readily in response to shear stress, and voids in these structures can act as sources and sinks for their movement.
Researchers use DNA to program metal nanoparticles to assemble into new configurations, resulting in the discovery of three new crystalline phases. The approach enables symmetry breaking and creation of complex colloidal crystal structures with unique optical and catalytic properties.
A team of researchers at The University of Tokyo has created a model that reveals the role of emergent elastic fields in chiral molecular and colloidal crystals. The findings provide a potential switch for developing new electro- and magneto-mechanical devices.
Researchers have found exotic topological features in soft matter, a discovery that challenges our understanding of physics. The study reveals that such features are widespread and can be observed in everyday environments, including living organisms.
Researchers have created a material that challenges traditional crystal definitions by having variable components, which can maintain structure with different proportions. The study used DNA to tether smaller particles to larger ones, revealing 'electron equivalents' that enable delocalization and new technologies.
Northwestern University researchers found nanoparticles engineered with DNA in colloidal crystals exhibit electron-like behavior, introducing a new term called metallicity. This discovery challenges the current understanding of matter and opens doors to designing new materials with unique properties.
Scientists at Northwestern University and University of Michigan report creating the most complex nanoparticle crystal ever made, with potential applications in controlling light, capturing pollutants, and delivering therapeutics. The crystal structure was achieved through a combination of DNA technology and controlled nanoparticle shape.
Researchers develop nonpolluting method to dye textiles with structural colors using 3D colloidal crystals, producing a range of colors that remain bright after washing.
Acoustic metadevices enable the dynamic alteration of three-dimensional colloidal crystals' geometry in real-time. Researchers have developed reconfigurable metamaterials with potential applications in optics and acoustics, such as beam deflectors and acoustic barriers.
Researchers found opal-like crystals in a 2000 Canadian meteorite, suggesting conditions existed for their formation 4.6 billion years ago. The discovery implies magnetite colloidal crystals have promising potential as novel functional materials.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have achieved optical waveguiding of near-infrared light through self-assembled, three-dimensional photonic crystals. By using multi-photon polymerization and a laser scanning confocal microscope, they created optically active crystals that can produce low-loss waveguides and low-threshold lasers.
Max Planck researchers have expanded the tool kit of colloid particles to produce new, shimmering colours that change with temperature. By metallising crystals with gold, they created patterns of varying symmetries and sizes at nanoscale, opening up possibilities for optical data processing.
A team of scientists has created an artificial immune system that can mimic the human immune response, allowing for faster and easier production of flu vaccines. The technology uses inverted colloidal crystals as three-dimensional cell scaffolds, enabling researchers to study the artificial immune system's reactions to biological hazards.