Crystallites to Wormlike Morphology: The Transformation of Crystallite Structure
Crystallite structure plays a crucial role in the properties of many materials. Historically, crystallite structure has been studied by X-ray diffraction and by light optical microscopy. Until recently, studies of crystallite structure have focused on the ball-like morphology that is typically observed. Recently, however, researchers have been turning their attention to the transition between ball-like morphologies and worm-like morphologies, which are becoming increasingly significant in certain industries.
When we compare a ball-like morphology to a worm-like morphology, we can see that the two types of crystallite differ in terms of size, shape and organization. To start, most ball-like morphology crystallites are fairly large, with a diameter of around 2 microns or larger. On the other hand, the structural elements of a worm-like morphology crystallite tend to be smaller, ranging in diameter from 0.2 to 2 µm. Furthermore, the shape of the ball-like morphology crystallites is generally spherical and uniform, whereas the worm-like morphology crystallites exhibit a wide range of shapes, from curved to straight and from small to large.
When considering the organization of crystallites, we observe that ball-like morphology crystallites are typically arranged in layered arrays, while worm-like morphology crystallites may be densely packed, loosely packed, or arranged into more complex patterns. These differences between the two types of morphology influence both their optical and mechanical properties.
For instance, ball-like morphology crystallites are generally transparent, while worm-like morphology crystallites display various degrees of light absorption due to their intricate, non-uniform organization. This difference in optoelectronic properties can be used to study the transition from a ball-like morphology to a worm-like morphology and has important implications for the development of new materials.
Apart from optical properties, the transition from a ball-like morphology to a worm-like morphology results in changes in physical properties, such as the elastic modulus, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity. For example, the transition between morphologies is known to increase the thermal conductivity of materials and can affect their response to external stimuli. In the area of composite materials, the transition between ball-like morphology and worm-like morphology can be used to create materials with improved mechanical properties and reduce their cost.
Interestingly, the transition between ball-likemorphology and worm-likemorphology can occur within a single crystallite if the conditions in the environment of the crystallite change. For instance, exposure to excessive heat could trigger a transition from a ball-likemorphology to a worm-likemorphology. In addition, exposure to various chemical processing treatments, such as anodization, also promote such a transition.
The transformation of crystallite structure from ball-likemorphology to worm-like morphology is thus a reversible process that results from exposures to various environmental influences and chemical processes. This transformation is of great interest to the scientific and engineering community due to the implications it has for the development of new materials. By gaining a better understanding of this transition, it is possible to improve current materials as well as create new materials with enhanced properties.
