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Condensed-matter physics

Melted by mistakes

Nature volume 437, pages 824–825 (2005)Cite this article

Two-dimensional polymers are potentially useful structures — if we could only understand their properties. Observations of one polymer's intricate, two-stage, melting transition may help us do just that.

Can the polymers from which moulded shoe-soles are made assemble themselves into two-dimensional repeating structures accurately enough to create materials for certain magnetic and semiconductor applications? Such an advance could replace the expensive electron and X-ray-lithography techniques needed for these uses. Writing in Physical Review Letters, Angelescu et al.1 contribute to this vision with experiments that further our understanding of the ordering processes of certain polymers. They also test a theory that the melting of two-dimensional crystals results from heat-induced defects in their structure.

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Figure 1: The A–B diblock copolymer used by Angelescu and colleagues1.
Figure 2: Good fit?

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  1. Departments of Materials and Chemical Engineering, University of California II-1361C, Santa Barbara, 93106, California, USA

    Edward J. Kramer

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  1. Edward J. Kramer
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Kramer, E. Melted by mistakes. Nature 437, 824–825 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/437824b

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