Issue 6, 2015

Crystal templating through liquid–liquid phase separation

Abstract

Controlled induction of crystal nucleation is a highly desirable but elusive goal. Attempts to speed up crystallization, such as high super saturation or working near a liquid–liquid critical point, always led to irregular and uncontrollable crystal growth. Here, we show that under highly nonequilibrium conditions of spinodal decomposition, water crystals grow as thin wires in a template-less formation of “Haareis”. This suggests that such nonequilibrium conditions may be employed more widely as mechanisms for crystal growth control.

Graphical abstract: Crystal templating through liquid–liquid phase separation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
06 Oct 2014
Accepted
28 Nov 2014
First published
28 Nov 2014

Chem. Commun., 2015,51, 1139-1142

Author version available

Crystal templating through liquid–liquid phase separation

J. Mosses, D. A. Turton, L. Lue, J. Sefcik and K. Wynne, Chem. Commun., 2015, 51, 1139 DOI: 10.1039/C4CC07880B

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