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A holistic view of nucleation and self-assembly

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Abstract

Nucleation is the seminal process in the formation of ordered structures ranging from simple inorganic crystals to macromolecular matrices. Observations over the past 15 years have revealed a rich set of hierarchical nucleation pathways involving higher-order species ranging from multi-ion clusters to dense liquid droplets, as well as transient crystalline or amorphous phases. Despite this complexity, the pathways that lead to nucleation can be described by a holistic framework that is rooted in classical concepts, but which takes into account the coupled effects of perturbations in free-energy landscapes and the impact of dynamical factors. This article describes that framework using a series ofin situ transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy studies on inorganic, organic, and macromolecular systems to illustrate the evolution in nucleation processes as these perturbations and dynamical factors come into play. The results provide a common basis for understanding development of order in systems as diverse as simple salt crystals, branched semiconductor nanowires, and microbial membranes.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Science and Engineering at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL is a multiprogram national laboratory operated for DOE by Battelle under Contract No. DE-AC05–76RL01830.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, USA

    James J. De Yoreo

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  1. James J. De Yoreo
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The following article is based on the David Turnbull Lectureship given by James J. De Yoreo at the 2016 MRS Fall Meeting in Boston. He is cited “for discoveries that have shaped our understanding of crystallization science.”

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De Yoreo, J.J. A holistic view of nucleation and self-assembly. MRS Bulletin 42, 525–536 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs.2017.143

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