Understanding Mechanisms of Crystal Growth and Structure-Function Relationship via In Situ Techniques

The properties and functionalities of materials are inherently tied to their structure. Understanding the fundamental principles of crystal growth and the factors that control them enables us to control the structures of materials with tailored properties. We study mechanisms of crystal growth via particle assembly and formation of heterogeneous structures by integrating in-situ techniques, such as TEM, with theoretical simulations. Interactions between active species at liquid-solid establish conditions to control the crystal growth 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. Deformations of structures (meta-stable phases) at the atomic scale can significantly enhance their functional behavior, such as catalytic activity. The results of this work enable us to control crystal growth and the resulting structures and design materials with tailored properties.