Physics – Condensed Matter – Soft Condensed Matter
Scientific paper
2008-12-16
Adv. Phys. 58, 449 (2009)
Physics
Condensed Matter
Soft Condensed Matter
Review article, 102 pages, 59 figures, submitted to Advances in Physics
Scientific paper
10.1080/00018730903043166
Many systems in nature and the synthetic world involve ordered arrangements of units on two-dimensional surfaces. We review here the fundamental role payed by both the topology of the underlying surface and its detailed curvature. Topology dictates certain broad features of the defect structure of the ground state but curvature-driven energetics controls the detailed structured of ordered phases. Among the surprises are the appearance in the ground state of structures that would normally be thermal excitations and thus prohibited at zero temperature. Examples include excess dislocations in the form of grain boundary scars for spherical crystals above a minimal system size, dislocation unbinding for toroidal hexatics, interstitial fractionalization in spherical crystals and the appearance of well-separated disclinations for toroidal crystals. Much of the analysis leads to universal predictions that do not depend on the details of the microscopic interactions that lead to order in the first place. These predictions are subject to test by the many experimental soft and hard matter systems that lead to curved ordered structures such as colloidal particles self-assembling on droplets of one liquid in a second liquid. The defects themselves may be functionalized to create ligands with directional bonding. Thus nano to meso scale superatoms may be designed with specific valency for use in building supermolecules and novel bulk materials. Parameters such as particle number, geometrical aspect ratios and anisotropy of elastic moduli permit the tuning of the precise architecture of the superatoms and associated supermolecules. Thus the field has tremendous potential from both a fundamental and materials science/supramolecular chemistry viewpoint.
Bowick Mark J.
Giomi Luca
No associations
LandOfFree
Two-Dimensional Matter: Order, Curvature and Defects does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Two-Dimensional Matter: Order, Curvature and Defects, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Two-Dimensional Matter: Order, Curvature and Defects will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-227376