2015/07/30 by James J. De Yoreo, Pupa U. P. A. Gilbert, Nico A. J. M. Sommerdijk +12 · 1 citation
Materials Science · Energy · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition #Iron oxide chemistry and applications #Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
paper · doi:10.1126/science.aaa6760
openalex publication_date 2015/07/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
Field and laboratory observations show that crystals commonly form by the addition and attachment of particles that range from multi-ion complexes to fully formed nanoparticles. The particles involved in these nonclassical pathways to crystallization are diverse, in contrast to classical models that consider only the addition of monomeric chemical species. We review progress toward understanding crystal growth by particle-attachment processes and show that multiple pathways result from the interplay of free-energy landscapes and reaction dynamics. Much remains unknown about the fundamental aspects, particularly the relationships between solution structure, interfacial forces, and particle motion. Developing a predictive description that connects molecular details to ensemble behavior will require revisiting long-standing interpretations of crystal formation in synthetic systems, biominerals, and patterns of mineralization in natural environments.