Controlled creation of point defects in 3D colloidal crystals
Fuente:
arXiv
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| Autori principali: | , |
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| Natura: | Preprint |
| Pubblicazione: |
2024
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| _version_ | 1866914822686244864 |
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| author | Schelling, Max P. M. Meijer, Janne-Mieke |
| author_facet | Schelling, Max P. M. Meijer, Janne-Mieke |
| contents | Crystal defects crucially influence the properties of crystalline materials and have been extensively studied. Even for the simplest type of defect - the point defect - however, basic properties such as their diffusive behavior, and their interactions, remain elusive on the atomic scale. Here we demonstrate in-situ control over the creation of isolated point defects in a 3D colloidal crystal allowing insight on a single particle level. Our system consists of thermoresponsive microgel particles embedded in a crystal of non-responsive colloids. Heating this mixed particle system triggers the shrinking of the embedded microgels, which then vacate their lattice positions creating vacancy-interstitial pairs. We use temperature-controlled confocal laser scanning microscopy to verify and visualize the formation of the point defects. In addition, by re-swelling the microgels we quantify the local lattice distortion around an interstitial defect. Our experimental model system provides a unique opportunity to shed new light on the interplay between point defects, on the mechanisms of their diffusion, on their interactions, and on collective dynamics. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2403_00678 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Controlled creation of point defects in 3D colloidal crystals Schelling, Max P. M. Meijer, Janne-Mieke Soft Condensed Matter Crystal defects crucially influence the properties of crystalline materials and have been extensively studied. Even for the simplest type of defect - the point defect - however, basic properties such as their diffusive behavior, and their interactions, remain elusive on the atomic scale. Here we demonstrate in-situ control over the creation of isolated point defects in a 3D colloidal crystal allowing insight on a single particle level. Our system consists of thermoresponsive microgel particles embedded in a crystal of non-responsive colloids. Heating this mixed particle system triggers the shrinking of the embedded microgels, which then vacate their lattice positions creating vacancy-interstitial pairs. We use temperature-controlled confocal laser scanning microscopy to verify and visualize the formation of the point defects. In addition, by re-swelling the microgels we quantify the local lattice distortion around an interstitial defect. Our experimental model system provides a unique opportunity to shed new light on the interplay between point defects, on the mechanisms of their diffusion, on their interactions, and on collective dynamics. |
| title | Controlled creation of point defects in 3D colloidal crystals |
| topic | Soft Condensed Matter |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.00678 |