title: Nucleation and growth of magnetite from solution.
abstract: The formation of crystalline materials from solution is usually described by the nucleation and growth theory, where atoms or molecules are assumed to assemble directly from solution. For numerous systems, the formation of the thermodynamically stable crystalline phase is additionally preceded by metastable intermediates . More complex pathways have recently been proposed, such as aggregational processes of nanoparticle precursors or pre-nucleation clusters, which seem to contradict the classical theory. Here we show by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy that the nucleation and growth of magnetite-a magnetic iron oxide with numerous bio- and nanotechnological applications-proceed through rapid agglomeration of nanometric primary particles and that in contrast to the nucleation of other minerals, no intermediate amorphous bulk precursor phase is involved. We also demonstrate that these observations can be described within the framework of classical nucleation theory.
authors: Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany.
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Baumgartner
authors: Archan
authors: A
authors: Dey
authors: Paul H H
authors: PH
authors: Bomans
authors: Cécile
authors: C
authors: Le Coadou
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Fratzl
authors: Nico A J M
authors: NA
authors: Sommerdijk
authors: Damien
authors: D
authors: Faivre
mesh_terms: D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D012996:Solutions; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D012996:Solutions; C000499:ferric oxide; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide
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