Structural peculiarities? Aperiodic crystals, modulated phases, composite structures

Title data

Schönleber, Andreas:
Structural peculiarities? Aperiodic crystals, modulated phases, composite structures.
In: Physical Sciences Reviews. Vol. 9 (2024) Issue 8 . - pp. 2597-2621.
ISSN 2365-659X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/psr-2018-0140

Official URL:

Abstract in another language

According to a general understanding, a crystal structure is defined by a lattice and the content of the unit cell of this lattice. As consequence a crystal exhibits three-dimensional periodicity with respect to the atoms. However, an increasing number of known crystal structures does not follow this idea of periodicity, but shows an aperiodic arrangement of its atoms. This group of so-called “aperiodic crystals” contains quasicrystals, modulated phases and composite structures. The latter two can be properly described within the higher-dimensional superspace approach to enable an accurate crystal-chemical analysis. Here the superspace is a mathematical tool, in which periodicity can be recovered in a higher-dimensional space. In the first part of this review the basic concept of periodic and aperiodic crystals is presented and similarities and differences of modulated phases, composite structures and quasicrystals are discussed. In a second part the higher-dimensional superspace approach is introduced in reciprocal and in direct space and the implementation of symmetry in superspace is reviewed. In the last part representative examples and the origin of aperiodicity in the crystal structures are discussed.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
Refereed:	Yes
Keywords:	higher-dimensional superspace; incommensurate structure; long-range order; quasiperiodic lattice; superspace symmetry
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Group Material Sciences > Chair Crystallography Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Group Material Sciences
Result of work at the UBT:	Yes
DDC Subjects:	500 Science > 530 Physics
Date Deposited:	01 Feb 2024 06:17
Last Modified:	17 Sep 2024 12:12
URI:	https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/88456