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Spatio-Temporal Patterns in Ferritin Crystal Growth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Olga Gliko  and
Peter G. Vekilov
Olga Gliko
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-4004
Peter G. Vekilov
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-4004
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Abstract

We investigate the unsteady kinetics and the formation of spatio-temporal patterns during the ferritin crystal growth, which is controlled by the rate of supply of material. For this, we apply a novel phase-shifting interferometry technique. We find that the growth rate and local slope fluctuate by up to 100% of their average values as a result of step bunching. The fluctuation amplitudes decrease with higher supersaturation and larger crystal size, as well as with increasing distance from the step sources. Since these are parameters that govern the protein supply field, we conclude that fluctuations are rooted in the coupling of the interfacial processes of growth to the bulk transport in the solution. Analysis of the step velocity dependence on local slope indicates a very weak interaction between the steps. Hence, in transport-controlled systems with non-interacting or weakly interacting steps the step bunches decay and step train tends towards its stable, equidistant state.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 724: Symposium N – Biological and Biomimetic Materials Properties to Function , 2002 , N7.18
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

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