Formation and fluctuation of two-dimensional dodecagonal quasicrystals*

Patchy particles are the particles with anisotropic surface patterns or patches on specific positions on the surface. The interaction of such particles is not only dependent on the distance, but also on their mutual orientations. Therefore, the patchy particles are capable of organising themselves into complex structures, which are important for the generation of novel materials. One of the complex structures is quasicrystal. Quasicrystal are ordered structures lacking periodic translational symmetry. Quasicrystals may have 5-, 10-, 12-fold rotational symmetry while crystals possess 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-fold rotational symmetry. The quasicrystal can be applied in various application such as advanced coatings, reinforced composites, magnetism. The quasicrystal is formed by nucleation and growth. However understanding on the mechanism, the growth of quasicrystal is still incomplete. 

In this study, we assemble a two-dimensional dodecagonal quasicrystal from the patchy particle of fivefold symmetry by Brownian dynamics simulation. We will discuss about the formation and the fluctuation of the dodecagonal quasicrystal using patchy particles and compare with the quasicrystal formed by isotropic particles.