Derivable genetic programming for two-dimensional colloidal materials

Published

September 21, 2022

Author(s)

Nathan Mahynski, Bliss Han, Daniel Markiewitz, Vincent K. Shen

Abstract

We describe a method for deriving surface functionalization patterns for colloidal systems that can induce self-assembly into any chosen periodic symmetry at a planar interface. The result is a sequence of letters, s ∈ A,T,C,G}, or a gene, that describes the perimeter of the colloidal object and programs its self-assembly. This represents a genome that is finite and can be exhaustively enumerated. These genes derive from symmetry, which may be topologically represented by two-dimensional parabolic orbifolds; since these orbifolds are surfaces that may be derived from first principles, this represents an ab initio route to colloid functionality. The genes are human readable and can be employed to easily design colloidal units. We employ a biological (genetic) analogy to demonstrate this and illustrate their connection to the designs of Maurits Cornelis (M. C.) Escher.

Citation

The Journal of Chemical Physics

Volume

157

Issue

11

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0106131

Local Download

Keywords

material design, colloids, self-assembly

Citation

Mahynski, N. , Han, B. , Markiewitz, D. and Shen, V. (2022), Derivable genetic programming for two-dimensional colloidal materials, The Journal of Chemical Physics, [online], https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0106131, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=934805 (Accessed October 27, 2025)