Turns out entropy binds nanoparticles a lot like electrons bind chemical crystals.
Sharon Glotzer
Nanotechnology: Theory predicts new type of bond that assembles nanoparticle crystals
Nanostructures get complex with electron equivalents
Nanoparticles of two different sizes break away from symmetrical designs.
Resurrecting quasicrystals: Findings could make an exotic material commercially viable
Self-healing phenomenon could reduce defects that rendered quasicrystals impractical.
‘Digital alchemy’ to reverse-engineer new materials
If you tell this computer program what crystal you need to build, it will design a particle that self-assembles into that crystal.
Toward protein nanomachines: just add charge
Added electrical charges can harness a protein’s shape and chemical properties to build interesting structures.
Most complex nanoparticle crystal ever made by design
Extraordinary nanoparticle crystals are possible by harnessing particle shape in addition to using DNA as smart glue.
