Crystallization via Particle Oriented Attachments

Nanomaterial properties such as morphology, size, strain, defect, etc are tied to their structures at micro-, nano-, and atomic scales. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of crystal growth, the formation of material structures, and the factors that control them enables us to design materials with tailored properties. We study mechanisms of crystal growth via particle attachments by integrating in-situ techniques, such as TEM and AFM, with theoretical simulations. Interactions between active species at liquid-solid establish conditions to control the assembly process. We study the crystal surface interactions as a function of viscosity, pH, electrolyte type, and concentration and the resulting structures and defects formed via particle aggregations. The findings of this work enable us to control crystal growth and the resulting structures and design materials with tailored properties.