Formation of aeroplane-like ZnO and tetrahexahedral Pt nanocrystals: systemic symmetry and symmetry breaking during nanocrystallization

TL;DR

This paper explores how systemic symmetries and symmetry breaking influence the formation of specific nanocrystals, revealing limitations of current crystallography theories in nanocrystallization.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of systemic symmetry in nanocrystals and discusses how symmetry breaking governs nanocrystallization beyond traditional crystallography.

Findings

Formation of aeroplane-like ZnO nanocrystals

Development of tetrahexahedral Pt nanocrystals

Symmetry breaking plays a key role in nanocrystal formation

Abstract

Symmetries are so involved in crystallographic detail that it is indispensable when crystal cell or lattice is mentioned. For nanocrystals, however, many are 'systemic symmetries', meaning that the whole structures of nanocrystal particles are symmetrical from a different view. In that case, the development of the systemic symmetry is dictated by the law of symmetry breaking; that is, nanocrystallization does, to some extent, exceed current theories associated with crystallography.