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Scientists use nanocubes to create spiral structures
Researchers at the Weisman Institute and the University of Illinois have found that cubic nanoparticles are able to assemble themselves into complex spiral structures similar to yarn.
Scientists Rafal Klajn and Gurvinder Singh used nanocubes made of iron oxide or magnetite. As one of the authors explained, “different types of forces cause crumpled magnetite particles to align differently.” The researchers were able to find a balance of competing forces that induce particle self-assembly into new materials.
Scientists have discovered two major competing forces: magnetism and van der Waals. When these forces act simultaneously on tiny cubes, the result is an alignment that produces spiral structures.
In their experiments, the scientists placed relatively high concentrations of magnetite nanocubes in a solution in a magnetic field. At the end of the experiment, uniform spiral chains were obtained. Repeated experiments with nanoparticles of other shapes gave nothing, only the cubes could align in a spiral.
Dr Klajn said it was too early to think about commercial applications. The immediate value of the work, he said, is that the fundamental principle of nanoscale self-assembly has been proven. “Even though magnetite has been well studied, no one has noticed these structures before.”
Source: nauka24news.ru/
Scientists Rafal Klajn and Gurvinder Singh used nanocubes made of iron oxide or magnetite. As one of the authors explained, “different types of forces cause crumpled magnetite particles to align differently.” The researchers were able to find a balance of competing forces that induce particle self-assembly into new materials.
Scientists have discovered two major competing forces: magnetism and van der Waals. When these forces act simultaneously on tiny cubes, the result is an alignment that produces spiral structures.
In their experiments, the scientists placed relatively high concentrations of magnetite nanocubes in a solution in a magnetic field. At the end of the experiment, uniform spiral chains were obtained. Repeated experiments with nanoparticles of other shapes gave nothing, only the cubes could align in a spiral.
Dr Klajn said it was too early to think about commercial applications. The immediate value of the work, he said, is that the fundamental principle of nanoscale self-assembly has been proven. “Even though magnetite has been well studied, no one has noticed these structures before.”
Source: nauka24news.ru/
