Colloidal Crystallization

Crystallization of Nanocrystals in Spherical Confinement Probed by in Situ X-ray Scattering

“…The self-assembly of colloids into larger periodic structures is a phenomenon commonly observed in nature. For example, opals form by colloidal crystallization of highly monodisperse spherical particles with diameters in the 100–1000 nm range. − In the last two decades, there has been more and more focus on colloids with sizes in the nanometer range . Assembly of colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) dispersed in nonpolar solutions has been studied extensively. − Single- and binary-component NC superlattices have been realized as three-dimensional crystals, , thin films, and in some cases even as two-dimensional sheets with a large variety of NCs. ,,− In this field of nanoscience, there is a quest to design superstructures with tunable optical, magnetic, and electric properties that emerge from the properties of the building blocks, and the quantum mechanical and dipolar interactions between them. , …”

“… 1 − 3 In the last two decades, there has been more and more focus on colloids with sizes in the nanometer range. 4 Assembly of colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) dispersed in nonpolar solutions has been studied extensively. 5 − 9 Single- and binary-component NC superlattices have been realized as three-dimensional crystals, 6 , 10 thin films, 9 and in some cases even as two-dimensional sheets with a large variety of NCs.…”

Binary icosahedral quasicrystals of hard spheres in spherical confinement

“…Colloidal suspensions are widely used as model systems to study fundamental processes such as crystallization, melting, nucleation, and the glass transition [15][16][17][18][19] . This is because they have a well-defined thermodynamic temperature, and consequently they display a phase behaviour similar to atoms and molecules.…”

“…This is because they have a well-defined thermodynamic temperature, and consequently they display a phase behaviour similar to atoms and molecules. Additionally, they can be investigated on a single-particle level, even in concentrated systems [15][16][17][18][19] . The use of droplets has also been of interest in the soft-matter field, not only because it is a powerful method to study protein crystallization, topological defects in liquid crystal droplets, and the crystallization kinetics of colloids 18,19 , but also to fabricate clusters of particles composed of smaller particles, also termed 'supraparticles' (SPs), upon drying the droplets 20,21 .…”

“…Additionally, they can be investigated on a single-particle level, even in concentrated systems [15][16][17][18][19] . The use of droplets has also been of interest in the soft-matter field, not only because it is a powerful method to study protein crystallization, topological defects in liquid crystal droplets, and the crystallization kinetics of colloids 18,19 , but also to fabricate clusters of particles composed of smaller particles, also termed 'supraparticles' (SPs), upon drying the droplets 20,21 . An unexpected and recent finding in both experiments and simulations is that when up to 90,000 hard spheres (HSs) are compressed under the spherical confinement of a slowly drying emulsion droplet, the system spontaneously crystallizes into icosahedral clusters and not into the thermodynamically stable FCC bulk crystal 22 .…”