Coherent kinetic control over crystal orientation in macroscopic ensembles of polymer nanorods and nanotubes
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Preparation of Liquid Crystal Networks for Macroscopic Oscillatory Motion Induced by Light
Published on: September 20, 2017
Martin Steinhart1, Petra Göring, Haissam Dernaika
1Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-6120 Halle, Germany. steinhart@mpi-halle.de
Abstract:
We show that the crystal orientation in polymer nanotubes and nanorods inside porous templates is controlled by the kinetics of nucleation and growth under 2D confinement. Two clear limiting cases are identified: In separated nanostructures, any crystal orientation allowing the growth of lamellar crystals along the pores appears statistically. If a bulklike surface film connects the nanostructures, macroscopic arrays with uniform crystal orientation are obtained, in which the dominant growth direction of the crystals is aligned with the long axes of the pores of the template.
Related Concept Videos
Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent – the...
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...

