Soft Interactions, Solid Results

Many organisms exhibit a remarkable control over
crystal nucleation and growth. This enables them to
construct composite materials with optimal
properties. They use modified forms of
minerals such as calcite, which are abundant in
nature, but lack the right properties in their
natural form.
In this thesis it is shown that a Self Assembled
Monolayer (SAM) of thiol molecules on gold films
acts as a template for epitaxial nucleation of
calcite and is able to modify its shape. Such SAM''s
are therefore a good model system
for organic templates used in nature. Furthermore it
is shown that SAM''s decrease the nucleation
barrier significantly due to the negative charge and
the relative ordering of
the functional groups. This leads to critical cluster
sizes that are much
smaller for crystals formed on the SAM than within
the solution.
While knowledge creation lies at the heart of
scientific research, its role typically remains
implicit in studies of the practices and the
management of that research. This research shows the
outstanding but undervalued importance of
socialization processes, whereas many research groups
focus on output instead of creating the right
social context.

Autorentext

obtained in 2000 a M.Sc. degree in physics and a Ph.D.degree in physical chemistry at the Radboud University Nijmegenin 2005. After his scientific carrier he moved into the ICT servicesindustry in which he is currently working as business developmentmanager.

Klappentext

Many organisms exhibit a remarkable control overcrystal nucleation and growth. This enables them toconstruct composite materials with optimalproperties. They use modified forms ofminerals such as calcite, which are abundant innature, but lack the right properties in theirnatural form. In this thesis it is shown that a Self AssembledMonolayer (SAM) of thiol molecules on gold filmsacts as a template for epitaxial nucleation ofcalcite and is able to modify its shape. Such SAM'sare therefore a good model systemfor organic templates used in nature. Furthermore itis shown that SAM's decrease the nucleationbarrier significantly due to the negative charge andthe relative ordering ofthe functional groups. This leads to critical clustersizes that are muchsmaller for crystals formed on the SAM than withinthe solution. While knowledge creation lies at the heart ofscientific research, its role typically remainsimplicit in studies of the practices and themanagement of that research. This research shows theoutstanding but undervalued importance ofsocialization processes, whereas many research groupsfocus on output instead of creating the rightsocial context.