title: Controlled self-assembly of periodic and aperiodic cluster crystals.
abstract: Soft particles are known to overlap and form stable clusters that self-assemble into periodic crystalline phases with density-independent lattice constants. We use molecular dynamics simulations in two dimensions to demonstrate that, through a judicious design of an isotropic pair potential, one can control the ordering of the clusters and generate a variety of phases, including decagonal and dodecagonal quasicrystals. Our results confirm analytical predictions based on a mean-field approximation, providing insight into the stabilization of quasicrystals in soft macromolecular systems, and suggesting a practical approach for their controlled self-assembly in laboratory realizations using synthesized soft-matter particles.
authors.affiliation: Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Kobi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.affiliation: Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel and Condensed Matter Physics 149-33, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lifshitz