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Early-stage bifurcation of crystallization in a sphere

Author

Listed:
  • Chrameh Fru Mbah

    (IZNF, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)

  • Junwei Wang

    (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)

  • Silvan Englisch

    (IZNF, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)

  • Praveen Bommineni

    (IZNF, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
    National Institute of Technology Warangal)

  • Nydia Roxana Varela-Rosales

    (IZNF, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)

  • Erdmann Spiecker

    (IZNF, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)

  • Nicolas Vogel

    (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)

  • Michael Engel

    (IZNF, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)

Abstract

Bifurcations in kinetic pathways decide the evolution of a system. An example is crystallization, in which the thermodynamically stable polymorph may not form due to kinetic hindrance. Here, we use confined self-assembly to investigate the interplay of thermodynamics and kinetics in the crystallization pathways of finite clusters. We report the observation of decahedral clusters from colloidal particles in emulsion droplets and show that these decahedral clusters can be thermodynamically stable, just like icosahedral clusters. Our hard sphere simulations reveal how the development of the early nucleus shape passes through a bifurcation that decides the cluster symmetry. A geometric argument explains why decahedral clusters are kinetically hindered and why icosahedral clusters can be dominant even if they are not in the thermodynamic ground state.

Suggested Citation

  • Chrameh Fru Mbah & Junwei Wang & Silvan Englisch & Praveen Bommineni & Nydia Roxana Varela-Rosales & Erdmann Spiecker & Nicolas Vogel & Michael Engel, 2023. "Early-stage bifurcation of crystallization in a sphere," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-41001-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41001-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Giarritta, S.Prestipino & Ferrario, M. & Giaquinta, P.V., 1993. "Statistical geometry of hard particles on a sphere: analysis of defects at high density," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 201(4), pages 649-665.
    2. Junwei Wang & Chrameh Fru Mbah & Thomas Przybilla & Benjamin Apeleo Zubiri & Erdmann Spiecker & Michael Engel & Nicolas Vogel, 2018. "Magic number colloidal clusters as minimum free energy structures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
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