Autor: |
Zhao-Yan Sun, Zhong-Yuan Lu, Zhan-Wei Li, You-Liang Zhu, Zi-Qin Chen, Yu-Wei Sun |
Rok vydání: |
2021 |
Předmět: |
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Zdroj: |
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. 12:8872-8881 |
ISSN: |
1948-7185 |
DOI: |
10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c01916 |
Popis: |
Designing complex cluster crystals with a specific function using simple colloidal building blocks remains a challenge in materials science. Herein, we propose a conceptually new design strategy for constructing complex cluster crystals via hierarchical self-assembly of simple soft Janus colloids. A novel and previously unreported colloidal cluster-χ (χc) phase, which resembles the essential structural features of α-manganese but at a larger length scale, is obtained through molecular dynamics simulations. The formation of the χc phase undergoes a remarkable two-step self-assembly process, that is, the self-assembly of clusters with specific size dispersity from Janus colloids, followed by the highly ordered organization of these clusters. More importantly, the dynamic exchange of particles between these clusters plays a critical role in stabilizing the χc phase. Such a conceptual design framework based on intercluster exchange has the potential to effectively construct novel complex cluster crystals by hierarchical self-assembly of colloidal building blocks. |
Databáze: |
OpenAIRE |
Externí odkaz: |
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