Scientists have recently discovered fascinating details about the growth of hollow crystal structure.
Discovering Zangenite: A New Crystal Structure!
Scientists are thrilled about a new hollow crystal structure called Zangenite. Named after the NYU graduate student Shihao Zang, who discovered it, this exciting find challenges our understanding of how crystals form. You might know crystals from everyday items like sugar, table salt, or even diamonds. However, Zangenite reveals that not all crystals grow in simple ways. Instead, they can take on surprising forms!
A Two-Step Dance to Crystallization
Researchers used special oppositely charged particles, like tiny magnets, that attracted each other. These particles, suspended in a liquid, don’t immediately form perfect crystals. Instead, they go through a captivating two-step process.
Step 1: The Blob Phase
Firstly, the particles clump together into blobs—dense, amorphous collections. These blobs aren’t crystals yet; they’re more like a disorganized jumble. Think of it as the chaotic initial stage before order emerges.
Step 2: Crystal Nucleation and Growth
Next, within these blobs, tiny crystal nuclei start to form. These nuclei act as seeds, around which the surrounding particles organize themselves into a structured, repeating pattern—the crystal lattice. This process is called nucleation.
An Unexpected Discovery: Zangenite
During their experiments, PhD student Shihao Zang stumbled upon a truly unique crystal. It was rod-shaped with hollow channels running through it—a structure unlike anything previously seen. This previously unknown crystal defied expectations. Initially, it resembled known crystals, but a closer look revealed a completely new arrangement of particles. After comparing it to thousands of known crystals, a match still could not be found.
Beyond Monomer-by-Monomer
Multiple Crystal Growth Mechanisms
The growth of these crystals isn’t just a simple case of particles adding one by one (monomer-by-monomer addition). The researchers identified several other remarkable mechanisms, revealing a more complex process.
Ostwald Ripening
Surprisingly, some crystals grow by absorbing particles not directly from the surrounding liquid, but through a process called Ostwald ripening. Smaller crystals dissolve, and their particles migrate to larger, more stable crystals, helping them grow.
Blob Absorption
Furthermore, the crystals directly absorb entire blobs! Imagine a crystal gobbling up a cluster of particles at once—a much faster way to grow. This process is similar to how crystals absorb liquid nutrients during their growth.
Oriented Attachment
Finally, small crystals can fuse in a highly precise way, aligning their structures perfectly. This oriented attachment results in larger, more flawless crystals, demonstrating the intricate choreography of crystal formation.
Simulations and Real-World Implications
Scientists used computer simulations to support their observations. These simulations accurately predicted the two-step crystallization process and the various growth mechanisms observed in the experiments. This combination of experiment and simulation is crucial for verifying and improving the understanding of complex processes.
In conclusion, this research provides a significant advancement in understanding crystallization processes. These findings are not only scientifically exciting but also relevant to various fields, including materials science, nanotechnology, and even pharmaceuticals, where controlled crystal growth is paramount. The possibilities for future applications are vast!
Reference
- Zang, S., Paul, S., Leung, C. W., Chen, M. S., Hueckel, T., Hocky, G. M., & Sacanna, S. (2025). Direct observation and control of non-classical crystallization pathways in binary colloidal systems. Nature Communications, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58959-0
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Neha Adikane holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Pune University, bringing a unique blend of scientific expertise and creative writing skills to her craft. She specializes in creating engaging, insightful, and impactful content across various niches. With a passion for translating complex ideas into simple, relatable narratives, she excels at crafting blogs, articles, website content, and social media posts that captivate readers and drive engagement. Neha’s background in environmental science adds depth to her writing, allowing her to effectively cover topics related to sustainability, eco-awareness, and scientific innovations.
