Colloidal Crystals, Quasicrystals and the Entropic Bond

Explore the fascinating world of colloidal crystals, quasicrystals, and the concept of entropic bonding in this 39-minute conference talk by Sharon Glotzer from the University of Michigan. Delivered at the Fred Kavli Special Symposium during the APS March Meeting 2019 in Boston, MA, the presentation delves into the counterintuitive idea of entropy-driven self-assembly in colloidal systems. Discover how particles with no interactions other than excluded volume can form ordered structures, including complex crystals and quasicrystals. Learn about recent discoveries in entropically ordered colloidal systems, such as the Bergman-like phase with a 432-particle unit cell and fluid-fluid transitions preceding crystallization. Gain insights into the role of entropy in producing order and complexity in various fields, from materials science to biology and economics. Understand the concept of the entropic bond and its analogy to traditional chemical bonds in atomic and molecular substances.