Epitaxy: a methodological approach to the study of an old phenomenon

Abstract

Epitaxial growth is a long-standing crystallization phenomenon of great technological interest. Here, we present the use of a new methodology approach making full use of the concept of adhesion energy between two different crystal phases, A and B. This is achieved by using (i) the traditional crystal-chemical fit between A and B; (ii) the extensive use of Bollmann's approach to the 2D-lattice coincidences; (iii) the most accurate methods of calculation of the specific adhesion energy of A/B. We illustrate the approach with two case studies: (i) how epilayers of inorganic and monoclinic Li₂CO₃ (zabuyelite) can modify the crystal habit of the CaCO₃ polymorphs, calcite (rhombohedral) and aragonite (orthorhombic); (ii) how a complex organic substance like sericin (silk fibroin like protein-SFLP) could stabilize aragonite and calcite, the most diffuse CaCO₃ polymorphs, simply reproducing and mimicking in the laboratory what nature does.