RUI: Preparation of Free-standing Icosahedral Quasicrystalline Nanoparticles and Their Application in Self Assembly

非技术总结：二十面体准晶结构以其独特的原子构型而著称。与非晶和晶体结构的悠久历史相比，这种特殊的结构仅在30年前才被首次报道。此外，尽管晶体和非晶态纳米颗粒的研究和应用广泛，但二十面体准晶纳米颗粒尚未被报道。本课题的重点是制备这种二十面体准晶纳米颗粒。这些粒子在自组装中的应用有望产生三维二十面体准晶图案，并有助于理解影响二十面体准晶结构稳定性因素的重要性。该项目对克拉里昂大学（CU）的本科教育产生了重大影响，这是一所位于宾夕法尼亚州西北部的农村机构，距离任何主要城市和学术中心大约两个小时的车程。值得注意的是，科罗拉多大学招收了许多第一代大学生。这项工作为这些学生提供了一个难得的机会来观察和参与科学研究和发现，激发了他们对科学技术的兴趣，增强了他们对发展科学技术事业的信心。它还以同行评议的出版物和会议报告的形式增加了我们在纳米技术领域的知识。此外，该项目被整合到八门本科物理和纳米技术课程中，每年直接影响大约100名学生的教育。最后，由于与一个完善的运动科学项目合作，该项目为当地高中的学生和教师提供了一个独特的参与和学习的机会。技术综述：在过去三十年的研究中，已经发现了一些具有稳定二十面体准晶结构的合金。这一进展为目前的项目铺平了道路，使用这些合金制造二十面体准晶纳米颗粒成为可能。纳米颗粒是通过机械破碎、化学蚀刻、表面功能化、去功能化和尺寸分类的综合使用而产生的。颗粒大小从10纳米到1微米不等。根据不同的应用，可以调整实验条件以产生球形或十二面体五边形的粒子。在多种潜在应用中，研究人员专注于研究上述纳米颗粒的自组装。由于所选择的纳米颗粒具有独特的十二面体五边形形态，因此有望组装出三维二十面体准晶体结构。这种类型的结构尚未被报道，可以作为一个模型来理解二十面体准晶结构的原子构型。

Non-technical summary: Icosahedral quasicrystalline structure is distinguished by its unique atomic configuration. In contrast to the long history of amorphous and crystalline structures, this particular structure was first reported only thirty years ago. Furthermore, icosahedral quasicrystalline nanoparticles have not yet been reported, despite the intense study and wide applications of crystalline and amorphous nanoparticles. The focus of this project is on the fabrication of such icosahedral quasicrystalline nanoparticles. Application of these particles in self assembly is expected to result in a three dimensional icosahedral quasicrystalline pattern, and will aid in understanding the importance of factors affecting the stability of icosahedral quasicrystalline structure. The project has a significant impact on undergraduate education at Clarion University (CU), a rural institution located in northwest Pennsylvania, approximately two hours drive from any major cities and academic centers. Notably CU accepts many first generation college students. This work gives these students a rare opportunity to observe and participate in scientific research and discovery, stimulating their interest toward, and boosting their confidence in developing careers in science and technology. It also adds to the enrichment of our knowledge in the field of nanotechnology in the form of peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences. Additionally the project is integrated into eight undergraduate physics and nanotechnology courses, directly impacting the education of approximately one hundred students per year. Finally, as the result of outreach efforts in collaboration with a well-established Science in Motion program, this project provides students and teachers of local high schools with a unique opportunity to participate and learn.Technical summary: Studies in the past thirty years have resulted in reports of some alloys with stable icosahedral quasicrystalline structures. This progress paves the way for the current project, making the fabrication of icosahedral quasicrystalline nanoparticles from these alloys possible. The nanoparticles are produced by the combined usage of mechanical breaking, chemical etching, surface functionalizing, de-functionalizing, and size sorting. The particle sizes range from ten nanometers to one micrometer. Experimental conditions are adjusted to generate particles of either spherical or dodecahedral pentagonal morphologies for different applications. Out of multiple potential applications, the researchers focus on studying self-assembly of said nanoparticles. Due to the unique dodecahedral pentagonal morphology of the selected nanoparticles, assembly of a three dimensional icosahedral quasicrystalline structure is expected. This type of structure has not yet been reported and can be used as a model to understand the atomic configuration of icosahedral quasicrystalline structure.