Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “dynamic diffraction”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,711 records · Page 95
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Equation of state, phase stability, and phase transformations of uranium-6 wt.% niobium under high pressure and temperature

In-situ time-of-flight neutron diffraction experiments were conducted on the uranium-niobium alloy with 6 wt. % Nb (U–6Nb) at pressures up to 4.7 GPa and temperatures up to 1073 K. Upon static compression at room temperature, the monoclinic structure of U–6Nb (α" U–6Nb) remains stable up to the highest experimental pressure. Based on the pressure-volume measurements at room temperature, the least-squares fit using the finite-strain equation of state (EOS) yields an isothermal bulk modulus of B 0 = 127±2 GPa for the α"-phase of U–6Nb. The calculated zero-pressure bulk sound speed from this EOS is 2.706±0.022 km/s, which is in good agreement with the linear extrapolation of the previous Hugoniot data above 12 GPa for α" U–6Nb, indicating that the dynamic response under those shock-loading conditions is consistent with the stabilization of the initial monoclinic phase of U-6Nb. Upon heating at ambient and high pressures, the metastable α" U–6Nb exhibits complex transformation paths leading to the diffusional phase decomposition, which are sensitive to applied pressure, stress state, and temperature-time path. These findings provide new insight into the behavior of atypical systems such as U-Nb and suggest that the different U-Nb phases are separated by rather small energies and hence highly sensitive to compositional, thermal, and mechanical perturbations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

The grain-size effect on thermal conductivity of uranium dioxide

We have investigated the grain-boundary scattering effect on the thermal transport behavior of uranium dioxide (UO 2 ). The polycrystalline samples having different grain-sizes (0.125, 1.8, and 7:2 µm) have been prepared by a spark plasma sintering technique and characterized by x-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and Raman spectroscopy. The thermal transport properties (the thermal conductivity and thermoelectric power) have been measured in the temperature range of 2–300 K, and the results were analyzed in terms of various physical parameters contributing to thermal conductivity in these materials in relation to grain-size. We show that thermal conductivity decreases systematically with lowering grain-size in the temperatures below 30 K, where the boundary scattering dominates the thermal transport. At higher temperatures, more scattering processes are involved in the heat transport in these materials, making the analysis difficult. We determined the grain-boundary Kapitza resistance that would result in the observed increase in thermal conductivity with grain-size and compared the value with Kapitza resistances calculated for UO 2 using molecular dynamics from the literature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Universal fluctuating regime in triangular chromate antiferromagnets

In this work, we report x-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and muon spin relaxation (μSR) measurements, as well as density-functional band-structure calculations for the frustrated S=3/2 triangular lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet (TLHAF) α-HCrO 2 (trigonal, space group: $R\bar{3}m$). This compound undergoes a clear magnetic transition at T N ≃22.5 K, as seen from the drop in the muon paramagnetic fraction and concurrent anomalies in the magnetic susceptibility and specific heat capacity. Local probes (NMR and μSR) reveal a broad regime with slow fluctuations down to 0.7T N , this temperature corresponding to the maximum in the μSR relaxation rate and in the NMR wipe-out. From the comparison with NaCrO 2 and α-KCrO 2 , the fluctuating regime and slow dynamics below T N appear to be hallmarks of the TLHAF with ABC stacking. We discuss the role of interlayer frustration, which may have impacted recent spin-liquid candidates with triangular geometry.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

In situ electrochemical scanning/transmission electron microscopy of electrode–electrolyte interfaces

Insights into the dynamics of electrochemical processes are critically needed to improve our fundamental understanding of electron, charge, and mass transfer mechanisms and reaction kinetics that influence a broad range of applications, from the functionality of electrical energy-storage and conversion devices (e.g., batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors), to materials degradation issues (e.g., corrosion and oxidation), and materials synthesis (e.g., electrodeposition). To unravel these processes, in situ electrochemical scanning/transmission electron microscopy (ec-S/TEM) was developed to permit detailed site-specific characterization of evolving electrochemical processes that occur at electrode–electrolyte interfaces in their native electrolyte environment, in real time and at high-spatial resolution. This approach utilizes “closed-form” microfabricated electrochemical cells that couple the capability for quantitative electrochemical measurements with high spatial and temporal resolution imaging, spectroscopy, and diffraction. Here, we review the state-of-the-art instrumentation for in situ ec-S/TEM and how this approach has resulted in new observations of electrochemical processes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1984

The Structure of the Uranian Rings and the Search for Rings Around Neptune

The nine narrow rings of Uranus, presently the only confirmed features of this system, have been observed with the diffraction-limited resolution (3.5 km) of ground-based occultations since their discovery in 1977. These data have been used to establish an orbit model, from which the five Keplerian orbit parameters for each ring, the pole of the mean ring plane, and the gravitational harmonic coefficients J sub 2 and J sub 4 have been determined. The rings are typically a few kilometers wide with eccentricities of about 0.001 and inclinations of a few hundredths of a degree, although a few have no measurable eccentricity or inclination. Interesting Voyager investigations would include probing the structure of the rings at higher spatial resolution, searching for new rings in the system (including inter-ring material), locating the postulated shepherd satellites, and searching for satellites inside the orbit of Miranda that might have dynamical influence on the rings. The high precision (approx 2 km) of the ring orbits might prove useful for spacecraft navigation. For Neptune, occultation searches have revealed no rings to a limit of a few hundreths optical depth, within a few hundred kilometers from the top of the planet's atmosphere (for equatorial rings).

Elliot, J. L.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Visualizing Crystallization Dynamics and Transformation Pathways of Disordered Rocksalt Oxides During Thermally Activated Sol–Gel Synthesis

Sol–gel synthesis is a wet-chemical processing route for fabricating functional materials with control over composition and microstructure at relatively low temperatures compared to conventional solid-state synthesis. While sol–gel process initiates with intermixed molecular precursors, the early-stage nucleation pathways are insufficiently understood. Here, in this study, the chemical and structural transformation of ion disordered rocksalt (DRX) Li 1.2 Mn 0.4 Ti 0.4 O 2 (LMTO), a promising cathode material for lithium batteries, is studied by multiscale characterizations. In situ heating transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using a liquid cell visualizes and identifies crystallization pathways at the nanoscale. While some regions follow a classical multi-step transition through thermodynamically stable intermediates, others exhibit a kinetic shortcut via a localized amorphous matrix to directly form the DRX structure. Macroscale Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy corroborates the findings and reveals that transition metal ions are more strongly incorporated into the acetate-coordinated network than lithium. Although in situ heating TEM captures diverse local transformation pathways, in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction indicates that the macroscopic transformation proceeds predominantly through spinel LMTO and lithium titanates toward DRX-LMTO. The findings uncover the spatiotemporal chemical and structural transformations in sol–gel derived DRX-LMTO materials, and call for fine-tuning of such sol–gel chemistries to manipulate the crystallization pathways and achieve target material homogeneity more efficiently.

cathode material↗
DOE OSTI2026

Structural Propensities in Cs2MBiX6 (M=Na, Ag; X=Cl, Br) Bismuth Halide Double Perovskites

A previously unreported low-temperature phase transition in the bismuth halide double perovskite Cs2AgBiCl6 is reported, thereby establishing trends in the structural ground state across Cs2NaBiCl6, Cs2AgBiCl6, and Cs2AgBiBr6. Using the combined toolkit of variable-temperature synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and density-functional theory–based electronic structure modeling, we demonstrate a cubic Fm¯3m → tetragonal I4/m transition upon cooling with distinct onset temperatures. Neutron powder diffraction refinements permit the unambiguously assignment of the low-temperature phase of Cs2NaBiCl6 to I4/m, correcting prior reports of an I4/mmm ground state. Cs2AgBiCl6 is also found to transforms to a structure crystallizing in the I4/m space group at low temperatures. Temperaturedependent Raman data and density-functional theory-based modeling capture the softening and freezing of out-of-phase octahedral-tilt modes and quantify relative instabilities. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at room temperature completes the characterization and helps underpin the subtle differences in covalency across the compounds. Trends in the phase transition temperature Ts and tilt magnitudes emerge from coupled effects of halide identity, M(I)–site bonding character, and a mismatch between interatomic distances. These results establish the structure– dynamics–bonding framework for tuning tilt-driven instabilities in halide double perovskites.

Tian, Haowen↗
DOE OSTI2020

Hollow Au Nanosphere-Cu 2 O Core–Shell Nanostructures with Controllable Core Surface Morphology

Design of metal-semiconductor interfaces and heterostructures is of strong interest for various catalytic applications including photocatalysis. Here, a series of hollow Au nanosphere (HGN)-Cu 2 O core-shell nanostructures with varying core surface rugosities are synthesized and investigated for possible photocatalytic applications. HGN surface rugosity is tuned by pH modification during galvanic exchange, and carboxyl groups are utilized as coordination sites to deposit uniform Cu 2 O shells onto the gold surfaces. Final core-shell structures are verified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Information regarding chemical state and electronic band structure is acquired by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). Ultrafast transient absorption (TA) reveals that charge separation in bumpy HGN (bHGN)-Cu 2 O may effectively provide longer-lived photoexcited carriers, offering great potential for utilization in advanced photocatalytic processes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1984

Science with the solar optical telescope

The Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) is designed to provide the solar physics community with the data necessary for solving several fundamental problems in the energetics and dynamics of the solar atmosphere. Among these problems are questions on the origin and evolution of the sun's magnetic field, heating of the outer solar atmosphere, and sources of the solar wind in the lower lying regions of the outer atmosphere. The SOT will be built under the management of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, with science instruments provided by teams led by Principal Investigators. The telescope will be built by the Perkin-Elmer Corporation, and the science instruments selected for the first flight will be provided by the Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory (LPARL) and the California Institute of Technology, with actual construction of a combined science instrument taking place at the LPARL. The SOT has a 1.3-meter-diameter primary mirror that will be capable of achieving diffraction-limited viewing in the visible of 0.1 arc-second. This dimension is less than a hydrodynamic scale-height or a mean-free-path of a continuum photon in the solar atmosphere. Image stability will be achieved by a control system in the telescope, which moves both the primary and tertiary mirrors in tandem, and will be further enhanced by a correlation tracker in the combined science instrument. The SOT Facility is currently scheduled for its first flight on Spacelab at the beginning of the 1990's.

Jordan, S. D.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Report on the final panel discussion on computational aeroacoustics

Some important conclusions about future prospects for aeroacoustics in general, and for computational aeroacoustics in particular, that were reached in the course of the Final Panel Discussion of the Workshop on Computational Aeroacoustics held from 6 to 9 April 1992 by ICASE and NASA Langley Research Center are summarized by the panel chairman. Aeroacoustics must now be involved in interactions with computational fluid dynamics (as applied not only to deterministic flows but also to the statistical characteristics of turbulence), while additionally incorporating rigorous comparisons with experiment. The new Computational Aeroacoustics will press forward in two parallel ways. In one of them, CFD will be used to determine aeroacoustic source strengths, the associated radiation being derived by the Acoustic Analogy approach in one of its forms. In the other, a direct Computational Aeroacoustics will apply CFD techniques over a region extending beyond the flow field so as to include at least the beginnings of the acoustic far field. There are some particularly important areas of study, including rotor noise, boundary-layer noise, and the noise of supersonic jets, where it is strongly recommended that use of both methods is continued. On the other hand, important problems of the diffraction of radiation from aeroacoustic sources around complicated aircraft shapes will require the use of comprehensively Computational Aeroacoustics, while Acoustic Analogy methods seem better suited to estimating subsonic jet noise. The study of model problems to allow comparisons with experiment will be valuable in both lines of attack.

Lighthill, James↗
DOE OSTI2025

Sm 2 Ru 3 Sn 5 : A Noncentrosymmetric Cubic Member of the Ln 2 M 3 X 5 Family

An optimized synthetic method is presented for Sm 2 Ru 3 Sn 5 and investigate its physical properties and electronic structure. Sm 2 Ru 3 Sn 5 is prepared by arc-melting stoichiometric ratios of the elements and is confirmed by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. An antiferromagnetic transition is observed at T N = 3.8 K. A modified Curie-Weiss fit to the data in the range 50–150 K yields a Curie-Weiss temperature: θ CW = −36.6 K and an effective magnetic moment: μ eff = 0.83 μ B , in agreement with a Sm 3+ oxidation state. Field-dependent magnetization up to H = 7 T at 2 K shows a maximum response of 0.06 μ B , which is significantly lower than the expected Sm 3+ saturation moment (0.71 μ B ). Resistivity measurements indicate metallic behavior, and analysis of the magnetic entropy from the heat capacity reveals a doublet ground state due to crystal electric field splitting. The electronic structure and density of states are calculated with density function theory and further supported by the local density approximation with dynamical mean-field theory. Finally, the experimental and computational results highlight localized Sm 3+ moments and suggest a possible interplay between Ruddelman–Kitel–Kasuya–Yosida and Kondo interactions, positioning Sm 2 Ru 3 Sn 5 as a promising material for studying topology and complex physical phenomena.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Solvothermal hot injection synthesis of core-shell AgNi nanoparticles

Silver-nickel core-shell nanoparticles (NP) were prepared by solvothermal hot injection synthesis by simultaneous thermolysis/reduction of AgNO 3 and Ni(acac) 2 precursors in the hot mixture of octadecene and oleylamine. Oleylamine decreases decomposition temperature of AgNO 3 to that of Ni(acac) 2 thus ensuring favorable reaction conditions. The prepared AgNi NPs with different Ag/Ni ratios were completely characterized. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) were used for particle size characterization of as-prepared AgNi colloids. There is no dependence of the particle size (13–21 nm by SAXS) on the Ag/Ni stoichiometric ratio, but the ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis) reveals that the intensity of the surface plasmon (SPR) decreases with increasing Ni content. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) verified the results of DLS and SAXS and showed spherical nanoparticle shape. Distribution of individual elements in the nanoparticles was mapped by high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDS) and revealed their core-shell structure where an Ag nucleus is covered by a thin amorphous Ni layer. Upon heating to 400 °C, Ni crystallization is substantiated by appearance of diffractions in the high-temperature X-ray powder diffractograms (HT-XRD) and of a magnetic moment. Ultimate phase separation was proven by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDS) in samples heated to 1000 °C. The reaction course and nanoparticle formation studied by DLS, UV–vis, and Ag and Ni elemental analyses reveal an initial Ag seed formation with subsequent Ni overlayer deposition after 180 s.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Impact of forging direction on the recrystallization behaviour of nickel base superalloy AD730 billet material at subsolvus temperatures

Highlights: • Large unrecrystallized grains present a fine distribution of intragranular γ′ precipitates; • Intragranular precipitates play a key role on strain distribution and subsequent recrystallization behaviour for AD730; • Continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) promotes the gradual consumption of large unrecrystallized grains. • Undissolved secondary precipitates play a key role on the microstructural evolution of AD730 • No significant effect associated to the forging direction on the recrystallization behaviour of AD730 was found. AD730™ is a newly developed Ni-based superalloy for turbine disk applications produced by cast and wrought processes. Conventional ingot-to-billet conversion is an expensive and very complex operation. Because of the difficulties to achieve a uniform strain for recrystallization, large unrecrystallized grains are retained along this process. Heterogeneities of grain size have a negative impact on subsequent forging processes as well as ultrasonic inspectability of the destination part. The main aim of this work is to analyse the impact of both forging direction (billet, cogging) and strain (ε = 0.3–2) on the microstructural evolution of AD730 at subsolvus temperatures from a semi-finished product (billet) under conditions representative of both cogging and hot forging operations. Special attention to the presence of large unrecrystallized grains was paid. Double truncated cones (DTCs) were hot forged at subsolvus temperatures followed by air cooling. SEM and EBSD analysis were conducted in the as-received (billet) and the as-forged conditions. AD730 alloy presents a complex microstructure characterized by the presence of large unrecrystallized grains, aligned in the billet direction, with remarkable differences in γ′ precipitates distribution as compared to recrystallized structures. The fine distribution of primary γ′ precipitates (pinning effect) plays a key role on grain size control but also on the recrystallization behaviour. Continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) mechanism was found to be operating in the large unrecrystallized grains, promoting the formation intragranular DRX grains and the gradual recrystallization of these grains. Strain presents a strong effect on the microstructural evolution of AD730, increasing the recrystallization fraction and refining the structure. By contrast, no significant effect associated to the forging direction was found. Conditions representative of cogging operations (ε ≤ 0.6) at subsolvus temperatures were translated into large fractions of unrecrystallized structures (strain accumulation).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Direct Observation of Dynamic Symmetry Breaking above Room Temperature in Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskite

Lead halide perovskites such as methylammonium lead triiodide (CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 ) have outstanding optical and electronic properties for photovoltaic applications, yet a full understanding of how this solution-processable material works so well is currently missing. Previous research has revealed that CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 possesses multiple forms of static disorder regardless of preparation method, which is surprising in light of its excellent performance. Using high energy resolution inelastic X-ray (HERIX) scattering, we measure phonon dispersions in CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 and find direct evidence for another form of disorder in single crystals: large-amplitude anharmonic zone edge rotational instabilities of the PbI 6 octahedral that persist to room temperature and above, left over from structural phase transitions that take place tens to hundreds of degrees below. Phonon calculations show that the orientations of the methylammonium (CH 3 NH 3 + ) couple strongly and cooperatively to these modes. The result is a noncentrosymmetric, instantaneous local structure, which we observe in atomic pair distribution function (PDF) measurements. This local symmetry breaking is unobservable by Bragg diffraction but can explain key material properties such as the structural phase sequence, ultralow thermal transport, and large minority charge carrier lifetimes despite moderate carrier mobility. In conclusion, from the PDF we estimate the size of the fluctuating symmetry broken domains to be between 1 and 3 nm in diameter.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Charge ordering and multiferroicity in Fe{sub 3}BO{sub 5} and Fe{sub 2}MnBO{sub 5} oxyborates

The comparison of Fe{sub 3}BO{sub 5} and Fe{sub 2}MnBO{sub 5} reveals that the 2Fe{sup 2+}: Fe{sup 3+} charge ordering of the former is suppressed in the latter. Spin dynamics probed by ac susceptibility are strongly affected by the substitution, inducing superparamagnetism at low temperature in Fe{sub 2}MnBO{sub 5}. Interestingly, for both oxyborates, glassiness is observed in the dielectric properties at low temperature, but only Fe{sub 3}BO{sub 5} shows a magnetodielectric effect close to its lower magnetic transition. A change in the electrical polarization, measured by pyroelectric current integration, is observed in Fe{sub 3}BO{sub 5} and is even more pronounced in Fe{sub 2}MnBO{sub 5}. Such results suggest that these oxyborates behave like antiferromagnetic relaxor ferroelectrics. These features are proposed to be related to the distribution of the species (Fe{sup 3+}, Fe{sup 2+} and Mn{sup 2+}) over the four transition metal sites forming the ludwigite structure. - Graphical abstract: 90 K [010] electron diffraction patterns of Fe{sub 3}BO{sub 5}. The yellow arrows in the pattern indicate the extra-spots corresponding to the superstructure induced by the charge ordering. - Highlights: • The TEM (ED) study of the Fe{sub 3}BO{sub 5} oxyborate at 90 K reveals a superstructure related to a Fe{sup 2+}/Fe{sup 3+} ordering. • The Fe{sub 2}MnBO{sub 5}, Mn-substituted counterpart, does not show such ordering. • Our magnetic and electric measurements demonstrate that these magnetic ferrites exhibit glassiness in their charges (relaxor-type) with additional superparamagnetism at low T for Fe{sub 2}MnBO{sub 5} and magnetodielectric coupling near T{sub N2}=72 K in Fe{sub 3}BO{sub 5}. • The pyroelectric measurements confirm the existence of a ferroelectric behavior in these antiferromagnets. Accordingly, our results open the route to the study of other large class of the M{sub 2}{sup 2+}M’{sup 3+}BO{sub 5} ludwigites and to their complex magnetism and its relationship to relaxor ferroelectricity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Theory of x-ray scattering from laser-driven electronic systems

We describe, within the framework of quantum electrodynamics, an interaction between a nonresonant hard x-ray pulse and an electronic system in the presence of a temporally periodic laser field driving electron dynamics in this system. Here we apply Floquet theory to describe the laser-driven electronic system, and then obtain the scattering probability of an arbitrary nonresonant x-ray pulse from such a system employing the density-matrix formalism. We show that the scattering probability can be connected to the time-dependent electron density of the driven electronic system only under certain conditions, in particular, if the bandwidth of the probe x-ray pulse is sufficiently narrow to spectroscopically resolve transitions to different final states. A special focus is laid on application of the theory to laser-driven crystals in a strongly nonperturbative regime. We show how the time-dependent electron density of a crystal can be reconstructed from energy-resolved scattering patterns. This is illustrated by a calculation of a diffraction signal from a driven MgO crystal.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1996

The First Diffraction-Limited Images from the W. M. Keck Telescope

The first diffraction limited, 0.05s resolution, images on the W. M. Keck Telescope have been obtained at a wavelength of 2.2 micrometers. These images were part of an experiment to test the suitability of the Keck Telescope for speckle imaging. In order to conduct this test, it was necessary to modify the pixel scale of the Keck facility Near Infrared Camera (NIRC) to optimally sample the spatial frequencies made available by the Keck telescope. The design and implementation of the external reimaging optics, which convert the standard fl25 beam from the secondary mirror to fl182, are described here. Techniques for reducing speckle data with field rotation on an alt-az telescope are also described. Three binary stars were observed in this experiment with separations as small as 0.05s. With only 100 frames of data on each, a dynamic range of at least 3.5 mag was achieved in all cases. These observations imply that a companion as faint as 14.5 mag at 2.2 micrometers could be detected around an 11th magnitude point source.

Matthews, K.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Why Seeding Works When Nucleation Barriers Vanish

Crystallization is a process governed by the interplay between nucleation and growth. While crystalline seeds are known to reduce nucleation barriers and accelerate crystallization under nucleation-limited conditions, their influence when nucleation is not the limiting step remains poorly understood. This creates a mechanistic puzzle in systems where nucleation barriers are already negligible, yet seeding still accelerates crystallization. Here, the synthesis of zeolites is a quintessential example of growth-limited crystallization in which seeds accelerate the process despite negligible homogeneous nucleation barriers. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations─validated across two zeolites and the unrelated case of ice crystallization─we establish that growth-limited crystallization produces many small, misoriented crystallites whose slow coarsening into larger domains controls the emergence of X-ray-detectable crystallinity. Local crystalline order, structural coherence, and X-ray detectability are therefore kinetically decoupled milestones: the first can be reached rapidly while the latter two lag significantly. Seeds resolve this lag by imposing a common orientational registry on nascent crystallites, enabling their coherent coalescence into large seed-bound domains. This early coherence-building step produces a crystallite-size asymmetry that accelerates subsequent coarsening, advancing the onset of X-ray-detectable crystallinity without necessarily increasing the nucleated fraction. We conclude that under growth-limited conditions, the apparent induction period observed in powder X-ray diffraction reflects the time required to build long-range coherence, not the time to form crystalline material. Accordingly, seeds function not primarily by reducing nucleation barriers but by enforcing spatial coherence, thereby shortening the time required to develop long-range order detectable by X-ray diffraction.

Growth-Limited Crystallization↗