Multiscale Crystallization of Inorganic Materials

How to form functional materials has long been the cornerstone in materials physics and chemistry, which stimulates general materials scientists to eagerly explore a variety of physicochemical methods toward fabricating desirable materials. In materials formation, constituent elements undergo related phase transitions from atoms/ions/molecules to colloids, nanocrystals, microcrystals, powders/films, or bulk single crystals. These phase transition processes dramatically limit a series of materials’ characteristics/features/performances, such as structures, sizes, morphologies, and properties/functions. In this paper, the formation of materials is uncovered from the viewpoint of multiscale crystallization, from both theoretical studies and experimental observations. The entire crystallization process includes both nucleation and crystal growth stages, respectively controlling the involved phase transitions among clusters/materials with multiscale features. Taking some typical materials as examples, we illustrated the dominant role of variable materials status with multiple sizes during crystallization processes in their practical applications toward energy storage and sustainability. The compromise/coupling between thermodynamics and kinetics controls variant factors to span multiscale modes during materials formation. Uncovering materials physics and chemistry from the viewpoint of multiscale crystallization may deepen our understanding in materials formation in the micro/mesoscale size range and facilitate function optimizations.