Helix Self-Assembly from Anisotropic Molecules

Abstract

We explore the potential energy landscape for clusters composed of disklike ellipsoidal particles interacting via an anisotropic potential based on the elliptic contact function. Over a wide range of parameter space we find global potential energy minima consisting of helices composed of one or more strands. Characterizing the potential energy surface in the region of helical global minima reveals a topology associated with "structure-seeking" systems. This result indicates that the helices will self-assemble over a wide range of temperature.