Michigan State University researchers have found a way to create crystals on demand, which are essential for technologies like solar panels, LED lighting, and medical imaging.
A New Frontier in Material Science
Published in ACS Nano, the breakthrough involved hitting gold nanoparticles with a single laser pulse.
“We’re only starting to explore the possibilities. This marks a new era in material design and research,” said Elad Harel, associate professor of chemistry and senior author of the study.
If you take a moment to look around, you’ll notice that crystals are at the heart of many technologies—from smoke detectors and TV displays to ultrasound machines and sonar systems. Their distinct optical and electrical properties make them central to modern innovation.
But producing these crystals is no simple task.
“With conventional growth methods, crystals may form unpredictably in both time and location, leading to inconsistent outcomes,” Harel explained.
The Challenge of Precise Crystal Placement in Advanced Technologies
As technology advances, it increasingly depends on precisely positioned, high-quality crystals—making this unpredictability a significant challenge for researchers.
To address this issue, Harel turned to his lab’s area of expertise—lasers, especially ultra-fast ones.
At MSU, Harel uses brief laser pulses to explore the hidden workings of nature, including a recent discovery that used these lasers to effectively “hear” biological processes.
In their latest study, the researchers explored growing a class of crystals known as lead halide perovskites, which are vital components in LEDs, solar panels, and medical imaging.
Instead of relying on the usual complex crystal-growing procedures or using a small “seed” crystal to initiate growth, Harel’s team directed their lasers at a minuscule, shimmering target—gold nanoparticles smaller than a thousandth the width of a human hair.
Real-Time Crystal Drawing with Laser-Heated Nanoparticles
The scientists discovered that the gold nanoparticles generated heat where the laser light hit, triggering crystallization. Using advanced high-speed microscopes, they were able to observe the process in real time.
Much like a laser engraving designs into metal or wood, this technique allows researchers to “draw” crystals with precise control—potentially revolutionizing areas such as clean energy and quantum technology. The study also deepens our understanding of crystal formation, a complex area in chemistry.
“With this approach, we can grow crystals at exact locations and times,” said Dr. Md Shahjahan, MSU research associate and lead author of the study. “It’s like having a front-row view of a crystal’s earliest moments under the microscope, with the ability to guide its growth.”
With their gold nanoparticles taking center stage, Elad’s team is returning to the lab to pursue experiments with significant potential.
These plans involve using multiple lasers of varying colors to “draw” more detailed crystal patterns and exploring the creation of entirely new materials that traditional methods can’t produce.
“Now that we can ‘draw’ crystals with lasers, the next step is to create larger, more complex designs and evaluate how these crystals function in real-world devices,” Harel explained.
Read the original article on: Phys.Org
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