Sapienza, Nankai, and Hebrew University Scientists Observe Spontaneous Woven Fabric in Crystal
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An international team led by Sapienza University of Rome, Nankai University, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has observed a three-dimensional woven fabric of nano-dipoles forming inside a ferroelectric crystal, they report today in Light: Science & Applications. The structure emerges spontaneously during cooling and can be locally manipulated with a green laser, revealing a new form of matter self-organization.
The Discovery
For the first time, scientists have observed a three-dimensional woven structure forming naturally inside a solid crystal. The structure consists of ferroelectric nano-dipoles that spontaneously weave over and under one another during the material's phase transition, creating an intricate network resembling woven fabric. The finding, published in Light: Science & Applications, is the work of an international team led by Eugenio Del Re (Sapienza University of Rome), Feifei Xin (Nankai University), and Aharon J. Agranat (Hebrew University of Jerusalem).
Crystal Engineering
The phenomenon was observed in specially grown KLTN (potassium lithium tantalate niobate) crystals developed by Agranat. Periodic variations in chemical composition were introduced during growth to form striation gratings, originally intended for electroholographic photonic switching. Instead, the crystals provided a platform for a new state of matter, with the woven structure emerging unpredictably.
Laser Manipulation and Broader Implications
Using a tightly focused green laser, the researchers could locally untangle the woven pattern without affecting the rest of the crystal; heating and cooling then restored the structure in a new configuration. The team suggests that similar topological structures may spontaneously arise in other systems, including liquid crystals, superconductors, and quantum materials. 'This suggests we may have overlooked similar topological structures in many other physical systems,' the authors said.
What's Next
The researchers plan to search for analogous woven structures in other material classes. It remains unclear whether the discovery can be harnessed for applications, but the optical rewritability points to possible use in reconfigurable photonic devices.
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Sapienza, Nankai, and Hebrew University Scientists Observe Spontaneous Woven Fabric in Crystal
