Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization01:25

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization

Crystallization is a phase transformation process in which crystals are precipitated from a supersaturated solution or formed from other sources. During crystallization, atoms or molecules arrange themselves into a well-defined, rigid crystal lattice to minimize energy.
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...
Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria01:10

Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria

Recrystallization is a purification technique used to separate impurities from solid compounds. In this technique, no chemical reactions occur. Instead, it exploits physical properties only, specifically, the solubility differences between the desired compound and impurities, either at a single temperature or at different temperatures, and under other selected conditions. The solid-solution equilibrium (solubility equilibrium) of each component in the solution represents a binary phase...
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Point, Line and Plane Defects01:25

Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Point, Line and Plane Defects

A perfect crystal, in theory, has a uniform structure with the same unit cell and lattice points throughout. However, any deviation from this periodic arrangement is known as an imperfection or defect. These defects can be categorized into three types: point, line, and plane defects.Point defects occur when there is a deviation from the ideal due to missing atoms, displaced atoms, or additional atoms. These imperfections might occur due to imperfect packing during crystallization or because of...
Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
Structures of Solids02:22

Structures of Solids

Solids in which the atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a definite repeating pattern are known as crystalline solids. Metals and ionic compounds typically form ordered, crystalline solids. A crystalline solid has a precise melting temperature because each atom or molecule of the same type is held in place with the same forces or energy. Amorphous solids or non-crystalline solids (or, sometimes, glasses) which lack an ordered internal structure and are randomly arranged. Substances that...
Solution Equilibrium and Saturation01:59

Solution Equilibrium and Saturation

Imagine adding a small amount of sugar to a glass of water, stirring until all the sugar has dissolved, and then adding a bit more. You can repeat this process until the sugar concentration of the solution reaches its natural limit, a limit determined primarily by the relative strengths of the solute-solute, solute-solvent, and solvent-solvent attractive forces. You can be certain that you have reached this limit because, no matter how long you stir the solution, undissolved sugar remains. The...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Comparative Analysis of Circulating Cytokines and Adrenergic Autoantibodies in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, and Healthy Controls.

Journal of the American Heart Association·2026
Same author

Konjac Glucomannan-Montmorillonite Hybrids as a Gut-Targeted Therapy for Addressing Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice.

Nutrients·2026
Same author

Biocoatings with Enhanced Bacterial Viability via Coagulant Dipping and Wet Sintering by Immersion.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026
Same author

A high-fat, high-sugar diet impairs maternal metabolism throughout pregnancy and lactation in mice.

The Journal of physiology·2026
Same author

Emerging Role of Taste Receptors, Entero-Endocrine Cells in Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders.

Nutrients·2026
Same author

Physiology of nutrient intake and absorption during pregnancy.

Advances in physiology education·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Growing Protein Crystals with Distinct Dimensions Using Automated Crystallization Coupled with In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering
09:15

Growing Protein Crystals with Distinct Dimensions Using Automated Crystallization Coupled with In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering

Published on: August 14, 2018

Crystallization controlled by the geometry of a surface.

Amanda J Page1, Richard P Sear

  • 1Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, The United Kingdom.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|November 17, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Heterogeneous nucleation in wedge-shaped grooves dramatically accelerates crystallization compared to flat surfaces. An optimal groove angle maximizes nucleation speed, explaining common techniques and enabling polymorph control.

More Related Videos

Optimization of Crystal Growth for Neutron Macromolecular Crystallography
12:29

Optimization of Crystal Growth for Neutron Macromolecular Crystallography

Published on: March 13, 2021

Optimizing the Growth of Endothiapepsin Crystals for Serial Crystallography Experiments
09:52

Optimizing the Growth of Endothiapepsin Crystals for Serial Crystallography Experiments

Published on: February 4, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Growing Protein Crystals with Distinct Dimensions Using Automated Crystallization Coupled with In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering
09:15

Growing Protein Crystals with Distinct Dimensions Using Automated Crystallization Coupled with In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering

Published on: August 14, 2018

Optimization of Crystal Growth for Neutron Macromolecular Crystallography
12:29

Optimization of Crystal Growth for Neutron Macromolecular Crystallography

Published on: March 13, 2021

Optimizing the Growth of Endothiapepsin Crystals for Serial Crystallography Experiments
09:52

Optimizing the Growth of Endothiapepsin Crystals for Serial Crystallography Experiments

Published on: February 4, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Chemical Engineering

Background:

  • Crystallization is crucial in diverse fields, including atmospheric chemistry and pharmaceuticals.
  • The process initiates with nucleation, the formation of microscopic crystals.
  • Heterogeneous nucleation occurs on surfaces, influencing crystallization rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate heterogeneous nucleation of crystals within wedge-shaped grooves using computer simulations.
  • To determine the impact of groove geometry on nucleation speed and efficiency.
  • To explore the potential for controlling polymorph formation through groove engineering.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing advanced computer simulations to model crystal nucleation.
  • Analyzing nucleation rates in surfaces featuring wedge-shaped grooves of varying angles.
  • Comparing nucleation behavior in grooves versus on flat surfaces.

Main Results:

  • Nucleation in wedge-shaped grooves is orders of magnitude faster than on flat surfaces.
  • An optimal wedge angle was identified, yielding the maximum nucleation rate.
  • Groove geometry significantly influences nucleation dominance over flat surface crystallization.

Conclusions:

  • Wedge-shaped grooves substantially enhance heterogeneous nucleation rates.
  • The findings explain the efficacy of surface scratching for inducing crystallization.
  • Groove geometry offers a potential method for controlling crystal polymorphs.