Colloid-roughened surfaces as templates for the heterogeneous nucleation of lepidocrocite γ-FeO(OH) nanoparticles

On the morphology of SrCO3 crystals grown at the interface between two immiscible liquids

“…Lured by the exquisite control that biological organisms exert over mineral nucleation and growth (both amorphous and crystalline) by a process known as biomineralization (Mann et al 1989;Addadi and Weiner 1992;Mann 1993Mann , 1996Mann , 1997Weiner and Addadi 1997;McGrath 2001), materials scientists are attempting to develop biomimetic approaches for the synthesis of advanced ceramic materials. It is now established that an important requirement for biomineralization is epitaxy between the crystal nucleating face and underlying bioorganic surface and consequently, biomimetic surfaces such as those presented by Langmuir monolayers Mann 1992a,b, 1994;Litvin et al 1997;Buijnsters 2001), self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on planar (Kuther et al 1998a;Aizenberg et al 1999) and nanoscale curved surfaces (Nagtegaal et al 1998;Kuther et al 1998bKuther et al ,c, 1999 as well as functionalized polymer surfaces (Falini et al 1994;Feng and Bein 1994) have been studied in great detail. Attempts have also been made to control the morphology of crystals by addition of suitable crystallization inhibitors (Bromley et al 1993;Qi et al 2000;Uchida et al 2001) and carrying out crystal growth in constrained environments such as those afforded by microemulsions (Hopwood and Mann 1997;Li and Mann 2000).…”

Influence of alcohol on the morphology of BaSO4crystals grown at the air–water interface

“…In this context, biominerals have served as an inspiration to crystal engineers. [1][2][3][4] It is now established that an important requirement for biomineralization is epitaxy between the crystal nucleating face and the underlying bio-organic surface and, consequently, biomimetic surfaces such as those presented by Langmuir monolayers, [5][6][7][8][9] self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on planar 10,11 and nanoscale curved surfaces [12][13][14] as well as functionalized polymer surfaces 15,16 have been studied in great detail. Control over the morphology of crystals grown in solution via the addition of suitable crystallization inhibitors/promoters [17][18][19] is a wellstudied and understood approach, 20 as is carrying out crystal growth in constrained environments such as those afforded by microemulsions.…”