AMBIENT-CONDITION CRYSTAL ENGINEERING: OVERCOMING HIGH TEMPERATURES/PRESSURES

Abstract

With the maturing of research on the preparation of nanomaterials, it has become apparent that the translation of laboratory experimentation towards nano-manufacturing requires methods that not only can produce high-quality crystals, but are also green, economical and sustainable.

In this thesis, we report the ambient-condition preparation of four types of crystals (basic bismuth nitrate, Ag₂MoO₄, Ag₂WO₄ and Ag⁰). More importantly, insights into their growth mechanisms and characteristics were unravelled from temporal and controlled experiments. Fundamentally, we demonstrate that with careful experimental design guided by an in-depth understanding of the unique crystal growth modes, it is possible to apply green methods with no loss of synthetic quality and control.

Like the core of a ripple, the concepts and strategies identified in this thesis can propagate through research, leading to expanded and more visible impact in the field of crystal engineering and applications.