Towards an Understanding of Crystallization by Attachment

Abstract

Crystallization via particle attachment was used in a unified model for both classical and non-classical crystallization pathways, which have been widely observed in biomimetic mineralization and geological fields. However, much remains unknown about the detailed processes and driving mechanisms for the attachment. Here, we take calcite crystal as a model mineral to investigate the detailed attachment process using in situ Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) force measurements and molecular dynamics simulations. The results show that hydration layers hinder the attachment; however, in supersaturated solutions, ionic bridges are formed between crystal gaps as a result of capillary condensation, which might enhance the aggregation of calcite crystals. These findings provide a more detailed understanding of the crystal attachment, which is of vital importance for a better understanding of mineral formation under biological and geological environments with a wide range of chemical and physical conditions.

Crystalline native defects in ZnO analyzed by photoluminescence applying Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics in the visible region

“…Another serious problem is the incorporation of different pollutants of different sizes are directly and indirectly that are inevitably incorporated into the matrix of this inorganic material [8]. Morphology is decisive and drastically governed by crystal growth parameters, in particular ZnO presents different, impressive and wonderful morphologies associated directly with the growth parameters as well as with the applied technique [9,10]. It is of utmost importance to understand the wide range of theoretical and experimental chemical and physical techniques in the synthesis of nanocrystals and in particular of ZnO.…”

Effects of Electrostatic Interaction on the Formation of a Particle Depletion Zone by Charged Nanoparticles during the Chemical Vapor Deposition of Si Processes

“…Nonclassical crystallization has been studied extensively by numerous researchers in the field of crystal growth. ,,− Hwang et al − showed that most nanoparticle building blocks generated in the gas-phase synthesis of thin films and nanostructures through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are electrically charged and that the charges played a critical role in nonclassical crystallization . To emphasize the role of charges in nonclassical crystallization, the authors named the underlying theory the “theory of charged nanoparticles” …”