Crystallography: Some are less equal than others
Crystallography: Some are less equal than others
复制标题
晶体学：有些晶体学不如其他晶体学
作者：
A. Mackay
传统上，晶体是无限重复的原子或分子晶格，其中每个晶格的位置都是相同的。簇的簇是严格晶体排列的另一种选择，可以形成一个全新的凝聚态物质家族。这样的结构现在已经被创造出来了：分层聚集的二十面体亚氧化硼粒子可以生长到几微米的大小。除了具有理论价值外，这种物质非常坚硬，可能是一种有用的工程材料。
Conventionally, crystals are infinitely repeating lattices of atoms or molecules, in which every lattice site is identical to every other. Clusters of clusters are an alternative to strict crystalline arrangements, and could form an entirely new family of condensed matter. Such a structure has now been created: hierarchically clustered icosahedral particles of boron sub-oxide can be grown to sizes several micrometres across. As well as being of theoretical interest, this substance is very hard, and could be a useful engineering material.