Fig. 3: Self-organized structure of sodium sulfate spherulites nucleate from dense clusters.
From: Controlled spherulitic crystal growth from salt mixtures
a Optical microscopy image showing dense liquid clusters near the contact line of 1 μL solution droplet with molar fraction xMg = 0.12. The white box marks the region shown in the time-lapse sequence below (0–10 s), illustrating how clusters evolve into a spherulite. Yellow arrows highlight clusters; the red arrow marks a cluster that develops into a spherulite. b–d Scanning Electron Microscopy images of spherulites grown in an evaporating droplet with iron molar fraction xFe = 0.12. b Cross-section of a spherulite (top) showing a self-organized structure of nanocrystals aligned by near-oriented particle attachment. The boxed region is magnified below; the white arrow marks a zone where adjacent nanocrystals have fused together into a more stable structure. c A premature spherulite at early stage of growth. d a fully developed spherulite.
