Crystallization in Confinement- Controlled pore glass

Controlled pore glasses (CPGs) are a silica material of a refractory nature containing random and tortuous pores which are available of mean pore sizes from 3 nm to hundreds of nanometers. CPGs are used to crystallize inorganic solids such as calcium sulfate, sodium sulfate or potassium ferrocyanide (KFCT) in nanopores. The results show stability of metastable phases in small pore sizes. These provide strong evidence for the universal effects of confinement on crystallization.

Figure . Schematic showing KFCT crystals in bulk solution and in CPGs, where an enormous stabilization of metastable phases was observed.