Morphology oriented attachment

CaCOs shows a broader morphological variety than BaS04 when crystallized in the presence of DHBCs. This is partly a reflection of the fact that CaCOs already has three different anhydrons polymorphs with different morphologies. Most of the reported stndies on DHBC-controUed CaCOs crystallization deal with self-assembled stmctnres whereas mesocrystal formation, oriented attachment, or PILP mechanisms have not yet been reported with DHBC additives. However, the formation of amorphous precinsor particles is omnipresent in the DHBC-controUed crystallization of CaCOs. 

But the chemical reactions provide only half of the information on the way to establishing a complete nanoparticle formation mechanism. The other half includes all types of crystallization processes such as prenucleation, nucleation and growth, and assembly and agglomeration. Size, shape, and size distribution of the nanoparticles are strongly dominated by crystallization processes. The tremendous variety of nanoparticle morphologies and architectures made it necessary to expand classical crystallization theory to new concepts such as oriented attachment, particle-based crystallization, or mesocrystal formation [154]. 

The AFM is set up for a standard CM experiment (Sect. 3.2.2). To be able to address the morphology and roughness on various lateral length scales, a large area scanner is selected. After the sample (film firmly attached to the sample puck with double sided sticky tape) has been mounted, care has to be taken to note the relative orientation of cantilever and characteristic film directions (e.g. the machine direction). 

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