Quasiperiodic Crystals: Teaching Aperiodicity of a Crystal Lattice with 3D-Printed Penrose Tiles

Abstract

In this paper, a teaching approach for the comprehension of the symmetry properties of an aperiodic crystal structure was described. Building a continuous-fill (quasi)crystalline pattern with the support of 3D-printed Penrose tiles, students can grasp the lack of translational symmetry typical of an aperiodic crystal.