The role of solvent properties and process parameters on the nucleation and growth of crystals in drying solutions (M05)

• Subject Area: Statistical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Complex Systems, Soft and Fluid Matter, Biological Physics
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 538767711

Project M5 focuses on how physical aspects of the heterogeneous solid/liquid system influence the nucleation and growth occurring at the interface during deposition from dissolved precursors. These aspects include in particular transport (diffusion and flow), concentration inhomogeneities influenced by proximity effects and the potentially three-dimensional nature of the interface and the concentration gradients, as well as solvent evaporation and (de-)wetting. Phase-field methods will be exploited to describe nucleation on patterned substrates (as in C1, F2) and to discover which experimental tools are available to drive two-dimensional growth. Electrostatic energies and specific nucleation sites will also be implemented into the model in order to allow for a direct comparison of M5 predictions with results of C1, F2-F4, S2, S3, and with support on model parametrization by M3, M4.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1719: Next-generation printed semiconductors: Atomic-level engineering via molecular surface chemistry
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Jens Harting, since 7/2025