DIRECTED NUCLEATION AND CRYSTAL GROWTH FROM SOLUTION USING SURFACE ENERGY MODIFIED AMORPHOUS MATERIALS

摘要

A means of directing nucleation and crystal growth has been developed in which these stages of crystallization are influenced by surface energy modifications to amorphous substrates. The surface energy of a substrate can affect the contact angle, line tension, wettability and energetics of the interaction with a supersaturated solution, and these factors are important in crystallization. The use of amorphous substrates creates an opportunity to modify their surface to create useful ranges of surface energies that enhance or inhibit, as may be advantageous, the thermodynamic, kinetic, or a combination of both, factors in nucleation, crystal growth, or crystallization from a supersaturated solution.

主权项

1. A process of initiating nucleation of crystals of a solute from a solution of the solute, or for generating crystalline material of a solute from a solution of the solute, or combinations thereof comprising contacting the solution of the solute with a substrate having an amorphous heterogeneous surface, wherein the amorphous heterogeneous surface of the substrate:
1) incorporates a pre-formed nucleation site array; 2) is placed in direct contact with a solution comprising the solute to be crystallized under conditions that are static, dynamic, or flow, or combinations thereof; and 3) is chemically resistant to dissolving in the solution.