Abstract
Nucleation and growth of nanoparticle crystals is often difficult. Recent progress has been made by linking dilute solution properties, such as the osmotic second virial coefficient, B2, to equilibrium phase behavior of nanoparticle suspensions. These studies show that, at the same values of B2, broad classes of nanoparticles have similar phase behavior. However, crystals nucleate from supersaturated solutions at greatly different rates. Links between strength of attraction and rates of nucleation have not been established. Here, we investigate the role of solution variables on the kinetics of nanoparticle crystal nucleation through measurement of the induction times for crystal formation. With silicotungstic acid and lysozyme, the effects of temperature, ionic strength, and additives such as poly(ethylene glycol), glycerol, and diols on crystal nucleation times are studied. The effects of the additives on the strength of attraction are characterized through measurements of B2 and solubility. Induction ti...
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