In a 2015 experiment, researchers watched an Al–Ni–Co quasicrystal grow inside a high-resolution electron microscope and saw a process that was not perfectly orderly at every step: faults appeared, then some were repaired as the structure grew. The finished structure had nearly perfect quasicrystalline order. The team proposed that a process called phason relaxation helped correct growth errors.
What the researchers observed
Keisuke Nagao, Tomoaki Inuzuka, Kazue Nishimoto and Keiichi Edagawa studied an Al–Ni–Co decagonal quasicrystal as it formed. Their paper, published in Physical Review Letters on 10 August 2015, reports in-situ, high-temperature, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and analysis of tiling patterns extracted from a sequence of images. The authors described frequent error-and-repair processes during growth, followed by a final structure with nearly perfect quasicrystalline order. Read the paper.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
A contemporary account gives the alloy composition as Al70.8Ni19.7Co9.5 and says the thin sample was heated to 1183 K to induce recrystallization. The microscopy images showed faults at the growth front; after additional layers formed, atomic clusters could rearrange and correct some earlier errors. The report said the physical mechanism behind this repair was unclear at the time. Chemistry World’s account.
Why a quasicrystal is unusual
Ordinary crystals can be described by a repeating unit cell: repeat the same pattern through space and the structure continues. Quasicrystals instead have long-range quasiperiodic order without a simply repeating unit cell. The arrangement is ordered, but not by straightforward repetition.
#1 Best Overall
- FAST-GROWING CRYSTALS IN 6 COLORS - Grow blue, red, purple, green, yellow, and glow in the dark crystals! Crystal chemistry has never been so fast (grows in 3 - 4 days), fun, and colorful, making this the perfect educational activity or gift!
- GROWING IS EASY – Easy-to-follow instructions and the 2 included silicone growing chambers make growing your crystals easier than ever!
- NIGHT LIGHT DISPLAY – Show off 5 of your favorite home-grown crystals in the USB-powered (cable included) light-up display! This fun kids STEM activity can help inspire a lifelong love of science and learning.
- INCLUDES REAL CRYSTAL SPECIMENS – Start or expand your rock collection with 4 real gemstone specimens: rose quartz, fluorite, blue calcite, and quartz geode. Learn about the gemstones in the kit with the included full-color Learning Guide.
- AMAZON EXCLUSIVE - Blue Marble has developed this product exclusively for Amazon.
That creates a growth puzzle. Atoms interact locally, while the resulting arrangement must sustain order across a structure that does not repeat. The 2015 experiment offered a view of how one real alloy developed that order: not by avoiding every fault, but through growth that included subsequent repair.
What “phason relaxation” means in this result
The images and tiling analysis supported the observed pattern of errors followed by repair. The authors’ explanation—that phason relaxation contributes importantly to that repair and to ideal quasicrystalline order—is an interpretation of how the process works, not a mechanism directly established by the images alone. The distinction matters: the experiment documented growth behavior, while phason relaxation was proposed as an account of how the structure could improve as it formed.
Rank #2
- 5 CRYSTAL-GROWING ACTIVITIES – This ultimate crystal kit lets kids safely grow five unique types of crystals: a mini crystal, a dinosaur-shaped crystal, a glow-in-the-dark crystal, 2 crystal trees, and awesome underwater crystals!
- GLOW-IN-THE-DARK CRYSTAL – Grow a luminous crystal that shines in the dark, making science fun even after the lights go out.
- UNDERWATER CRYSTALS – Kids will love watching 4 vibrant crystals grow right before their eyes in a safe, immersive underwater environment!
- CRYSTAL TREES & DINOSAUR – Grow a sparkling crystal-covered dinosaur figure and 2 colorful crystal trees for an eye-catching display.
- ALL-INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL SCIENCE KIT – Includes crystal solutions, crystal-growing stones, display container, dinosaur mold, tree forms, safety gear, kid-friendly instructions & an educational Learning Guide filled with cool facts about crystals!
The paper’s key result is qualitative. It reports “frequent” error-and-repair processes and “nearly perfect” final order; it does not provide a numerical error rate or a count that would justify a more precise statistic.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
How the result fits the debate over growth models
The finding should not be read as disproving all local growth theories. Edagawa said the quasicrystals in this experiment did not grow according to Steinhardt’s model. Steinhardt replied that his rules described a mathematical abstraction of tiles, whereas the experiment involved a three-element alloy. He also pointed out that growth was constrained to one direction. Those differences limit a direct comparison between the model and the observed material.
Rank #3
- GROW VIBRANT COLORED CRYSTALS - Grow crystals in 3 amazing colors: blue, purple, and green. With this engaging and educational science experiment for kids, chemistry has never been so fun and colorful!
- NIGHT LIGHT DISPLAY - Show off your crystals on the patent-pending light-up display. With 7 single color modes, rainbow color mode, and 3 brightness levels to choose from, your crystal treasures will shine!
- COMPLETE SCIENCE KIT – Contains all you need! Growing powder, clear seed rocks, growing chamber, light-up display, and easy-to-follow instructions. Our uniquely flexible growing chamber allows you to easily remove your crystals for display without damage!
- START A ROCK COLLECTION – This kit comes with 3 real gemstone specimens, including a geode, green fluorite, and blue calcite, along with a detailed learning guide explaining how crystals grow and more! Makes an excellent STEM gift for boys and girls.
- AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTS - Blue Marble, winner of the Toy Association's prestigious Toy of the Year Award, proudly develops products that foster education, imagination, and creativity, with a U.S. support team to ensure a stellar experience!
Other comments in the contemporary report were interpretations, not a settled consensus. Primož Ziherl saw the result as supporting the possibility that perfect quasicrystals can self-assemble without atoms slotting into prearranged positions, and suggested non-local forces may not be necessary. Steinhardt called empirical verification of possible perfect growth an important development while maintaining the distinction between his abstract rules and the alloy experiment. The report also said the researchers planned to observe crystals formed by standard industrial processes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What this experiment establishes—and what it does not
- Established for this sample: the team observed growth of an Al–Ni–Co decagonal quasicrystal in situ and analyzed image-derived tilings that indicated frequent error-and-repair processes.
- Reported outcome: the grown structure showed nearly perfect quasicrystalline order.
- Proposed explanation: the authors argued that phason relaxation plays an important role in repairing the structure.
- Not established: that every quasicrystal grows this way, that all faults are repaired, or that every competing growth model is wrong.
This is a specific experimental result published in 2015, not evidence by itself about the latest state of quasicrystal research.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- GROW RED, BLUE AND CLEAR CRYSTALS AND MAKE THEM GLOW: Let your child feel like a real chemist mixing the special ingredients and watching the crystal grow, day by day. And when you're done, display it on the light-up display for all to admire! Follow along with the beautifully illustrated 12-page booklet describing how crystals are formed.
- LET IT GLOW: Growing the crystals is only half the fun. Turn your newly formed crystals into a piece of art by placing them on the included LED Light-up Display and watch the lights burst through the complex crystal formations. It's a truly magical sight at night. (Powered by an included Micro-USB cable).
- KIT INCLUDES: USB Powered LED Light-up Display, Micro-USB Cable, 3 Growing Cups, 3 Crystal Powder Bags (Red, Blue, Clear), 3 Crystal Starters, Mixing Stick, Tweezers, and a gorgeous 12-page instruction and learning guide. Includes everything needed for the young scientist to grow the crystals with ease, and gain a deeper understanding of them.
- FOOL-PROOF SATISFACTION GUARANTEED: This kit has been designed from the ground up to help kids grow beautiful crystals with confidence. With premium ingredients, innovative tools, and a comprehensive step-by-step instruction booklet that adults and children can easily understand and follow, it’s a fun, hands-on activity the whole family can enjoy.
- A FUN AND EDUCATIONAL GIFT FOR ALL AGES: It's not often that a science project can be fun and engaging, but this kit achieves both! It fascinates children as soon as they pull it out of the box and is a perfect STEM project. It fosters a love for science and crystallography in a fun and exciting way.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
