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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...
Precipitation Processes01:12

Precipitation Processes

The experimental conditions in a gravimetric analysis should be optimized to maximize the particle size and purity of the obtained precipitate. Ideally, the concentration of the precipitating reagent should be low with effective stirring to maintain low relative supersaturation for the growth of large crystals. In homogeneous precipitation, the precipitant is slowly generated by a chemical reaction in the solution to avoid local reagent excesses. For example, urea decomposes gradually to...
Protein Complex Assembly02:41

Protein Complex Assembly

Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types.  Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Precipitate Formation and Particle Size Control01:16

Precipitate Formation and Particle Size Control

In precipitation gravimetry, the precipitating agent should react specifically or selectively with the analyte. While a specific reagent reacts with the analyte alone, a selective reagent can react with a limited number of chemical species.
The obtained precipitate should be either a pure substance of known composition or easily converted to one by a simple process, such as ignition or drying. In addition, the precipitate should be insoluble and easily filterable. In general, filterability...
Types of Coprecipitation01:10

Types of Coprecipitation

Coprecipitation is the contamination of a precipitate by otherwise soluble species and occurs via different processes. In colloidal precipitates, coprecipitation occurs via surface adsorption. For instance, barium sulfate has a primary layer of adsorbed barium ions and a secondary layer of nitrate counterions. This results in contamination of the precipitate by barium nitrate.
Sometimes, ions in a crystal lattice can undergo isomorphous replacement by inclusions of similar charge and size. For...

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Liquid-cell Transmission Electron Microscopy for Tracking Self-assembly of Nanoparticles
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Crystallization mechanisms in convective particle assembly.

Philip Born1, Andres Munoz, Christian Cavelius

  • 1Structure Formation Group, INM-Leibniz-Institute for New Materials, Saarbrücken, Germany.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|May 8, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Colloidal particles form crystalline coatings via fluid flow. Temperature dictates assembly, transitioning between convective flow at high temperatures and capillary action at low temperatures, yielding regular hexagonal packing.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Surface Chemistry

Background:

  • Colloidal particle assembly is crucial for creating ordered materials.
  • Understanding assembly mechanisms, like convective and capillary flows, is key to controlling film properties.
  • Temperature significantly influences particle mobility and assembly dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the temperature-dependent mechanisms of colloidal particle assembly into crystalline coatings.
  • To analyze particle trajectories and film growth under varying thermal conditions.
  • To develop a model predicting assembly behavior and transition temperatures.

Main Methods:

  • Optical interference microscopy for visualizing particle films.
  • Particle image velocimetry (PIV) for analyzing fluid flow.
  • Particle tracking for monitoring particle movement during assembly.
  • Development and application of a physical model comparing convective drag and thermal agitation.

Main Results:

  • Identified a transition in assembly mechanisms from convective flow at high temperatures to capillary-driven assembly at low temperatures.
  • Observed high particle mobility in a precursor film at low deposition temperatures.
  • Demonstrated that both mechanisms produce hexagonal particle packing, with convective assembly yielding greater regularity.
  • Validated a model predicting transition temperatures based on particle size and temperature.

Conclusions:

  • The study elucidates the distinct temperature-dependent mechanisms governing colloidal particle assembly.
  • A predictive model was developed, offering insights into controlling crystalline film formation.
  • Convective assembly offers superior control over film regularity compared to capillary assembly.