title: Aggregation-governed oriented growth of inorganic crystals at an organic template.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kewalramani
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dommett
authors.forename: Kyungil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Guennadi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Evmenenko
authors.forename: Haiding
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stripe
authors.forename: Pulak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dutta
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D002254:Carbonates; D005227:Fatty Acids; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D002104:Cadmium; C005479:magnesium carbonate; C038075:cadmium carbonate; D008274:Magnesium