Manipulating silver dendritic structures via diffusion and reaction

Abstract

A dendrite is one of the most esthetically pleasing structures, with the best-known example being snowflakes. Although the formation of dendrites has been studied for centuries, the way to control their growth is limited. Here we report an attempt to manipulate the growth of dendritic structures via controlling chemical diffusion and reaction. The silver dendritic structures are synthesized by reducing silver ions in solution. The diffusion of chemical agents is regulated by changing the viscosity of the solution while the reaction is regulated by adding acids. The decrease of reaction rate leads to the disappearance of side branch of dendrites while the reduction of diffusion rate shortens the main trunk of dendrites. The silver dendrites are finely tuned by chemical diffusion and reaction. Following studies suggest that diffusion and reaction determines the chemical concentration around the growth fronts, which influences the growth of crystal structures, leading to the formation of diverse silver dendritic structures. The findings in this study indicate that chemical diffusion and reaction are two effective tools to regulate dendritic structures, promising a different way to promote or prevent the growth of dendritic structures in industries.