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Crystal nucleation

In a tight corner

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Surfaces are known to act as catalysts for the nucleation of crystals. Using polymer films patterned with nanopores, it is now shown that the shape of the pores can control the kinetics of surface-induced crystal nucleation.

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Figure 1: Crystallization of aspirin induced by porous surfaces1.
Figure 2: Nucleation of crystals (red) in porous surfaces (pores, white; surface, grey).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Richard Sear is in the Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK,

    Richard P. Sear

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  1. Richard P. Sear
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Correspondence to Richard P. Sear.

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Sear, R. In a tight corner. Nature Mater 10, 809–810 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3157

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