Quasicrystals
Context
- Recently, A new natural source of quasicrystals has been found by scientists, bringing the total number of known natural sources to three.
About
- Quasicrystals are matter that lies between amorphous solids and crystals, having an irregular yet predictable atomic arrangement.
- The atoms in quasicrystals repeat themselves at varying intervals in a distinct pattern.
- Quasicrystals were first discovered in a lab by Dan Shechtman in 1982.
- The first natural occurrence of quasicrystals was in microscopic grains found in the Khatyrka meteorite in Russia’s Koryak mountains.
- Natural quasicrystals were later discovered in the remains of the Trinity test of the Manhattan Project.
- Recently, scientists found a rare dodecagonal quasicrystal in silicate glass in the Sand Hills dunes of northern Nebraska.
Applications of Quasicrystals
- Quasicrystals have various applications, such as surgical instruments, LED lights, and non-stick frying pans.
- They are good insulators due to their poor heat conductivity.
- Quasicrystals can also be used as selective solar absorbers and broad-wavelength reflectors.
- They have potential in bone repair and prostheses due to their biocompatibility, low friction, and corrosion resistance.
