New Perspectives on Mineral Nucleation and Growth: From Solution Precursors to Solid Materials

Nucleation from a present day perspective Classical vs. non-classical crystallization.- Solution speciation in the prenucleation stage.- Computer simulation of prenucleation clusters and liquid-liquid phase separation.- Novel paradigms in non-classical nucleation theory.- Liquid precursors in CaCO3 crystallisation.- Heterogeneous nucleation.- Thermodynamics and energetics of ACC.- Short-range structures in ACC, polyamorphism.- Probing the structure of ACC by total scattering.- ACC and vaterite as metastable intermediates in the solution precipitation of CaCO3.- The multiple crystal structures of vaterite.- Calcium carbonate mesocrystals.- Control over calcite morphologies and structures, organic/inorganic hybrids.- Biomimetic materials, reinforced composites.- Nucleation and growth from a biomineralisation perspective.- Early stages of calcium phosphate formation.- Phase transformations in CaP crystallization.- Control over apatite formation.- Magnetite nucleation and growth.- Oriented attachment and particle-based growth mechanisms in iron oxide formation.- Nucleation and growth of calcium sulfate.- Nucleation and growth of silica nanoparticles.- Summary of recent achievements, attempt to clear up generic confusion in the community and to establish a uniform picture of crystallization.