Aggregation-governed oriented growth of inorganic crystals at an organic template.
X-ray studies performed during the growth of CdCO(3) and MnCO(3) crystals from supersaturated aqueous solutions, at fatty acid monolayer templates, reveal that the nucleates are nearly three-dimensional powders below a threshold supersaturation. However, at higher supersaturations, the crystals are preferentially oriented with the {0 1 2} direction vertical. Scanning electron microscope images of samples transferred to substrates show discrete crystals at low concentrations, while at higher concentrations the crystals self-aggregate to form linear chains and sheets. The authors speculate that preferential alignment at the organic-inorganic interface is enhanced as a consequence of oriented aggregation of crystals. The role of monolayer-ion interactions in governing the morphologies and the resulting orientation of the inorganic nucleate is discussed.
Kewalramani
Sumit
S
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
Dommett
Geoffrey
G
Kim
Kyungil
K
Evmenenko
Guennadi
G
Mo
Haiding
H
Stripe
Benjamin
B
Dutta
Pulak
P
D000438:Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000737:chemistry*; D002254:Carbonates / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D003461:Crystallography / Q000379:methods; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
D000438:Alcohols; D002254:Carbonates; D005227:Fatty Acids; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D002104:Cadmium; C005479:magnesium carbonate; C038075:cadmium carbonate; D008274:Magnesium