title: Oriented attachment and mesocrystals: non-classical crystallization mechanisms based on nanoparticle assembly.
abstract: In this review, we highlight particle based crystallization pathways leading to single crystals via mesoscopic transformation. In contrast to the classical mechanism of atom/molecule mediated growth of a single crystal, the particle mediated growth and assembly mechanisms are summarized as "non-classical crystallization", including exiting processes like oriented attachment and mesocrystal formation. Detailed investigations of non-classical crystallization mechanisms are a recent development, but evidence for these pathways is rapidly increasing in the literature. A major driving force for these investigations originates from biomineralization, because it seems that these crystallization routes are frequently applied by natural organisms. We give a non-exhaustive literature survey on these two mechanisms with a focus on recent examples and studies, which are dedicated to a mechanistic understanding. Furthermore, conditions are introduced for which these non-classical crystallization mechanisms can be expected, as they are always an alternative reaction pathway to classical crystallization.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Colloid Chemistry, Research Campus Golm, 14424, Potsdam, Germany. Markus.Niederberger@mpikg.mpg.de
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niederberger
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cölfen
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D003461:Crystallography / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D010316:Particle Size