Crystallisation and Self-Assembly

We are fascinated by crystallization and the many ways it shapes the world around us—from the intricate morphologies found in nature and the damage caused by salt in artworks and historic buildings to the design of new materials with finely tuned properties. Our research spans length scales from the micro- to the macroscale: from the self-assembly of nanocrystals to the fundamental processes of nucleation and growth of inorganic salts in droplets and in confined environments such as porous materials.

A central theme in our work is to unravel both classical nucleation and growth and non-classical pathways, especially in the presence of additives like polymers and surfactants or, mixture of ions in contact with different types of surfaces—knowledge that is key to controlling crystal structure, dynamics, and function.

Banner: A crystal but, but not as we know it! Rozeline Wijnhorst et al, Softness of hydrated salt crysals under deliquescence, Nature Communications (2023).