Jim Lutsko

Jim Lutsko

My interests include Statistical Physics; Crystallization; Density Functional Theory, Simulation methods - particularly rare event techniques, Protein physics, Granular physics and Crystal Growth. I am based in the Physics of Complex Systems and Statistical Mechanics group at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles.

[123] Cluster-mediated stop-and-go crystallization

A.E.S. Van Driessche, J. Lutsko, D. Maes, M. Sleutel"Cluster-mediated stop-and-go crystallization", J. Crystal Growth, 903, 127024(2022); doi:10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2022.127024 http://jimlutsko.github.io/files/Lutsko_2022_CGD2.pdf

Abstract

Impurities control the formation of bio-crystals and can fully paralyze crystal growth at low levels of supersat­ uration. Traditional impurity models predict that an escape from this so-called “dead zone” requires an increase in the driving force (i.e. supersaturation). In this work, using protein crystals as a model system, we uncover an alternative escape route from the dead zone that does not involve an increase in supersaturation. We demonstrate that the merger of a protein cluster with the crystal surface triggers the formation of an ordered multi-layered island. The newly created surface on top of the resulting 3D island is initially devoid of impurities and there­ fore characterized by near-pure step growth kinetics. The accelerated step advancement on this relatively un­ contaminated surface limits the available time for impurities to adsorb on the emerging terraces and by extension their resulting surface density. Cluster-mediated crystal growth occurring in heterogeneous media can therefore lead to stop-and-go dynamics, which offers a new model to explain crystallization taking place under biological control (e.g. biomineralization).