| Controlling features of self-organized architectures of viral size and shape has eluded scientists for decades. We show how one can use electrostatic interactions to induce the formation of ribbon-like helical (chiral) patterns on the surface of cylindrical nano-fibers. Moreover, on spherical geometries (viral shells, micelles, vesicles, fullerenes) electrostatic self-assembly may lead to faceting. A model that describes the interplay between icosahedral symmetry (the highest symmetry on a sphere) and icosahedral shaped faceting is presented. These shells appear in oppositely charged molecules co-assembled into membranes or adsorbed onto interfaces forming emulsions. |
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