Single crystals of potassium ferrocyanide trihydrate, K 4 [Fe(CN) 6 . 3H 2 O (KFCT), a ferroelectric material with Curie temperature 251K were grown in silica gel at room temperature for the first time by the solubility reduction method. Resorcinol and ethyl alcohol were used for the purpose of gel setting and supernatant liquid respectively. Optical and mechanical properties were studied for the grown crystal. The structure of the grown crystal was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and FT Raman spectral analysis of the crystalline samples reveal that the crystalline sample consist consists of all functional groups. Thermal analysis of the crystalline sample was performed by TGA and DTA methods. The Vicker's micro hardness value was measured for KFCT crystals. The square etch pits with a hopper-like structure is an indicative of 2D nucleation mechanism.

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Solubility, metastable zone width and induction period measurements have been performed on zinc sulphate heptahydrate (ZSHH). Interfacial tension values determined from induction period measurements have been used for the evaluation of the nucleation parameters such as radius of critical nucleus and the free energy of formation of critical nucleus. ZSHH crystallizes in the orthorhombic structure. Crystals of diamagnetic zinc sulphate heptahydrate have been grown by temperature lowering solution growth technique with the optimized growth parameters. The as-grown ZSHH crystals were characterized by the powder X-ray diffraction, UV-VIS absorption and transmittance, FT-IR absorption, TG-DTA, microhardness and etching studies.

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The graded neutral gel technique (GNGT) was evolved to control the nucleation in the gel growth of crystals. It was executed in stages using simple devices. Tartrate crystals of five different types were grown under excellent control of nucleation. Crystals of increased size and excellent perfection were produced by this method. Habit modification was found to take place in certain cases.