Nanoparticle driven nucleation of inorganic and macromolecular crystals*

Crystallization from solution, a omnipresent process in both natural and industrial environments, can follow a variety of pathways, including nanoparticle driven nucleation which includes the formation, aggregation and transformation of these particle during the early stages of crystal formation. This multistep mechanism has been observed for both organic (e.g. a model protein) and inorganic (e.g. sulfate salts) crystalline materials [e.g. 1-3]. Detailed, in situ studies of these systems have allowed us to establish a comprehensive picture of the crystallization dynamics and based on those findings we are now able to understand polymorph selection [4] and elucidate novel strategies to control crystallization. In this talk, an overview of nanoparticle driven nucleation will be presented for an inorganic and a macromolecule system. Special emphasize will be placed on the role of the primary nanoparticles in the outcome of the crystallization process, and how this can be used to control the nucleation pathway by adding for example organic polymers.

[1] Sleutel and Van Driessche, PNAS 111, E546-E553, 2014.
[2] De Yoreo et al., Science 349, 489, 2015.
[3] Van Driessche et al., New perspectives on mineral nucleation and growth. Springer-Verlag, 2017.
[4] Tritschler et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 54, 1-5, 2015.