Crystal growth and dissolution processes are
being studied from a number of different points of view:
The mechanisms studied
at the nanoscale, to determine the effect of supersaturation state and the role of inorganic impurities and organic
inhibitors
The growth and dissolution of solid
solutions in aqueous solutions : thermodynamics and mechanisms.
The effect
of organic polymers on the nucleation and growth of calcite with reference to Biomineralisation
(DFG Schwerpunkt programme on Biomineralisation)
The role of porosity in defining
the threshols supersaturation of fluids in rocks. Crystal growth at high supersaturation in porous rocks. Force of
crystallisation and salt damage in building stones (an EU STREP project)
The mechanism of mineral replacement reactions and pseudomorphism. Coupled dissolution-reprecipitation.
General mechanisms of reequilibration of solids in a fluid phase.
Application of bond valence theory to determine the morphology of etch pits during dissolution and the
orientation of growth steps. Applications to uranyl oxide minerals.
