quasikristalline

Quasikristalline, or quasicrystals, are fascinating solid materials that, in some ways, resemble crystals but lack the periodicity that defines traditional crystalline structures. While crystals exhibit atomic arrangements that repeat in a regular, predictable pattern throughout the material, quasicrystals display an ordered structure that is not periodic. This means their atomic arrangement is ordered and follows specific mathematical rules, but it does not repeat itself in a simple, translational manner.

The defining characteristic of quasicrystals is their unique symmetry. Traditional crystals are limited to certain symmetry types, such as two-, three-, four-, or six-fold rotational symmetry. Quasicrystals, however, can exhibit symmetries that are mathematically impossible in periodic crystals, most notably five-fold rotational symmetry. This unusual symmetry arises from the way their atoms are arranged in a pattern that, while ordered, aperiodic.

The discovery of quasicrystals in 1982 by Dan Shechtman was groundbreaking and initially met with skepticism from the scientific community. His work revealed materials with an ordered but non-repeating atomic structure, challenging the long-held definition of a crystal. This discovery earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2011.

Quasikrystals possess a range of intriguing properties, including hardness, low friction, and poor thermal and electrical conductivity. These properties make them potentially useful in various applications, such as coatings for cookware, aerospace components, and electronic devices. Research continues to explore their fundamental nature and potential technological advancements.