Researcher Grows Microscopic Flowers by Controlling Crystallization

Researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have found a way to shape microscopic crystals into complex and beautiful structures. Project leader Wim L. Noorduin and his colleagues were able to modify the growth of the crystals through tiny chemical alterations of a fluid containing water, liquid glass, and the salt barium chloride. Carbon dioxide from the air dissolved into the solution set off a reaction that caused barium carbonate crystals to form. This caused the pH of the water surrounding the crystals to get lower, which in turn caused the dissolved sodium silicate to form into a layer of silica on them, thus extending their growth process.

Noorduin found that as the crystals self-assembled, he could control their shape, size and direction of growth by altering the temperature, the amount of carbon dioxide allowed into the reaction and the acidity of the water. Increasing the carbon dioxide levels creates the broad, flat leaves of those mineral flowers, for example. Fluctuating the acidity level creates the ruffled wave in the petals.

These electron microscope images have been artificially colored to accentuate the complexity of the structures. In reality the images are black and white.

via Gizmag