2017/05/22 by Michael Paßens, Vasile Caciuc, Nicolae Atodiresei +6 · 1 citation
Materials Science · Chemistry · #Quasicrystal Structures and Properties #Fullerene Chemistry and Applications #Nanocluster Synthesis and Applications
paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/ncomms15367
openalex publication_date 2017/05/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
Abstract Since their discovery, quasicrystals have attracted continuous research interest due to their unique structural and physical properties. Recently, it was demonstrated that dodecagonal quasicrystals could be used as bandgap materials in next-generation photonic devices. However, a full understanding of the formation mechanism of quasicrystals is necessary to control their physical properties. Here we report the formation of a two-dimensional dodecagonal fullerene quasicrystal on a Pt 3 Ti(111) surface, which can be described in terms of a square–triangle tiling. Employing density functional theory calculations, we identify the complex adsorption energy landscape of the Pt-terminated Pt 3 Ti surface that is responsible for the quasicrystal formation. We demonstrate the presence of quasicrystal-specific phason strain, which provides the degree of freedom required to accommodate the quasicrystalline structure on the periodic substrate. Our results reveal detailed insight into an interface-driven formation mechanism and open the way to the creation of tailored fullerene quasicrystals with specific physical properties.