Crystal synthesis inside a vacuum?

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Jess Williams
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Real name: Jess Williams

Crystal synthesis inside a vacuum?

Post by Jess Williams »

Would it be possible to ionize an ultra-fine powder of some crystal (quartz, iron pyrite, bismuth, ect.) and make a crystal form on the negative electrode? Most take a dehydration synthesis in order to attach the molecules together but i'm sure there are molecules that when in the absence of other molecules would attach on the spot and form a more pure crystal lattice without any other molecules getting in its way and disrupting it. Curious on others thought towards it.
Dan Knapp
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Re: Crystal synthesis inside a vacuum?

Post by Dan Knapp »

That’s how they make synthetic diamonds (as well as other crystals), but they don’t start with powders; they use gaseous precursors. It is a very slow process and requires extremely well controlled conditions.
ian_krase
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Re: Crystal synthesis inside a vacuum?

Post by ian_krase »

I believe that sputtering sometimes forms crystals as well, at least when the substrate is a crystal.
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Rich Feldman
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Re: Crystal synthesis inside a vacuum?

Post by Rich Feldman »

At the opposite extreme, tons of synthetic quartz crystals are grown at pressures up to 1500 bar (21,000 psi),
from alkaline aqueous solutions at temperatures around 380 °C, mimicking the natural geological method.
qtz4.jpg
qtz4.jpg (25.89 KiB) Viewed 1580 times
That's barely above critical temperature, but almost 7 times critical pressure, so it's fair to consider the growth medium "liquid".

ref: http://www.roditi.com/SingleCrystal/Qua ... rowth.html
All models are wrong; some models are useful. -- George Box
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