Zhong Weizhuo

Analysis of growth habits of polar organic crystal N-4-nitrophenyl-(L)-prolinol (NPP) based on the incorporation of growth units

The growth habits of the polar organic crystal N-4-nitrophenyl-(L)-prolinol (NPP) in organic solvents have been studied from the standpoint of the incorporation of growth units. Qualitative explanations of the observed growth forms are based on (1) the interaction between the solvent molecules and the growth units, and (2) the influence of the solvent molecules on growth interfaces, particularly on two polar faces of the polar organic crystal. Since the incorporation rates of the growth units are different on positive and negative polar faces, a variety of growth habits appear. The surface structures of the grown crystal have been investigated through ex-situ observations of atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Growth units model of anion coordination-polyhedra and its application to crystal growth

Growth units model of anion coordination-polyhedra ACP model emphasizes the influence of intrinsic structure of crstal upon the crystal growth and the importance of the external conditions on which crystals grow. The ACP model is used to analyze some problems in crystal growth, such as the formation of dendrite in the crystal structure, growth habit of polar crystal, and formation of allomerism and polymorphism.

Growth of NaBi(WO4)2 Dendrite and Mechanism

The solid–liquid interface motion of NaBi(WO4)2 (NBWO) melt crystal growth is observed in an in situ system, in which the whole processes of interface transition from flat interface and cellular to dendrite are visualized. The spacing of the dendrite under smaller temperature gradient turns out to be larger than that under larger temperature gradient, which is found to be sensitive to the temperature distribution. The mechanism of dendrite growth of NBWO is studied based on the model of the growth units of anion coordination polyhedra. The { 001} face has two apex links, so it shows higher stability and has high growth rate and forms the arm of dendrite, whereas the { 010} face has only one apex link, and thus shows relative slower growth rate and firstly forms the branches.