Growth of spherulitic crystal patterns in a Belousov–Zhabotinski type reaction system

Abstract

The growth of spherulitic crystal patterns in a Belousov–Zhabotinski (BZ) type reaction system by using acetyl acetone (AA)–succinic acid (SA) as dual organic substrates has been reported. The reaction system in the liquid phase has been found to show concentric ring-like wave patterns. A colloidal phase composed of numerous fine particles has also been observed during reaction. The solid phase nucleation has been found to occur in the colloidal phase, which leads to the formation of some stable nucleus centers. The solid phase nucleus has been found to grow in symmetric crystal patterns, with the progress of reaction, exhibiting spherulitic morphology. The possible growth behavior of spherulites has also been discussed. The spherulitic structure composed of fine crystal fibrils diverging from a common center have been observed by a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The polymorphic crystalline phase, found in spherulites has been supported by thermal characterization (TGA/DTA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of crystal materials.