Unveiling the Reversible Process of Crystal Formation at the Atomic Scale

With the quest for advanced material science and nanotechnologies, a recent study sheds light on how crystals form at the atomic level, a process heretofore unobservable by conventional means. Can scientists watch atoms form crystals? This is the question many researchers have been investigating, particularly as they push the boundaries of understanding and controlling matter at smaller length scales.

According to Peter Ercius, a staff scientist at Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry and a lead author of the study, this research is crucial for advancing our understanding of the formation of specific crystals.

Traditional scientific understanding posits that once crystals reach a certain size, they remain stabilized in a more ordered and stable state. However, this recent study challenges that notion. Drawing an analogy, Won Chul Lee, a guiding professor in the project, explains, 'If we imagine each atom as a Lego brick, it turns out that the bricks repeatedly fit together and break apart again until they are finally strong enough to stay together.' This dynamic comes into play in the formation process, particularly during the nucleation stage where the crystal foundation is set.

To visualize this complex process, researchers at the National Center for Electron Microscopy at Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry, guided by a team of in-house experts, utilized the world's most powerful electron microscope, TEAM I. Utilizing this equipment, they captured real-time atomic-resolution images at an unprecedented speed of 625 frames per second, up to 100 times faster than previous studies. This allows unprecedented detail in observing the reversible process of crystal formation.

The initial unstable structures of the crystals could not be seen with slower observations, as the process is extremely fast. As Ercius elucidates, this very fast reversible process would be missed, and one would only see a blur instead of the transitions. This is the reason why the nucleation behavior had never been seen before.

The researchers discovered that the formation of these crystals is an exothermic process, meaning it releases energy. Surprisingly, the energy released from the formation of the initial nucleus can raise the local 'temperature', causing the crystal to melt. This cycle of order and disorder, resulting from the energy released during the attachment of atoms, occurs multiple times before a stable crystal nucleus is formed that can withstand the heat.

This research is complemented by theoretical validation from the team's calculations on binding reactions, providing a solid foundation for the experimental findings.

Keywords

Crystal formation, Atomic resolution, Reversible process, Exothermic process

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Further Reading

To delve deeper into the topic, explore recent studies and advancements in nanotechnology and material science. Also, to learn more about the TEAM I electron microscope and its groundbreaking capabilities, visit the official Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry.