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arXiv · 0706.3876

Growth mechanism of nanocrystals in solution: ZnO, a case study

Ranjani Viswanatha·Pralay K. Santra·Chandan Dasgupta·D. D. Sarma
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Abstract

We investigate the mechanism of growth of nanocrystals from solution using the case of ZnO. Spanning a wide range of values of the parameters, such as the temperature and the reactant concentration, that control the growth, our results establish a qualitative departure from the widely accepted diffusion controlled coarsening (Ostwald ripening) process quantified in terms of the Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner theory. Further, we show that these experimental observations can be qualitatively and quantitatively understood within a growth mechanism that is intermediate between the two well-defined limits of diffusion control and kinetic control.

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Ranjani Viswanatha, Pralay K. Santra, Chandan Dasgupta, D. D. Sarma. 2007-06-26. Growth mechanism of nanocrystals in solution: ZnO, a case study. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.98.255501

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