Linking Additive Structures to Nanoparticle Properties

Abstract

The effects of a series of polyphosphonate and poly-carboxylate additives have been investigated in the crystallization of various inorganic salts. Systematic variation of the additive structure has been used to provide insight into the dominant factors in additive-crystal interactions. The results obtained for barium sulfate and hematite (a-Fe2O3) show that the morphological effects do not necessarily follow the trend one might expect on the basis of the structural features of the additives. Molecular modeling, coupled with in-situ AFM imaging is being used to develop an approach that will allow more informed systematic design of crystal growth modifiers.