Website of Artificially Grown Crystals

As part of the celebrations of IYCr2014, the IUCr Commission on Crystal Growth and Characterization of Materials is launching a call for pictures of artificially grown crystals to create a gallery, which will be hosted by the iycr2014.org website.

[Scandate] Dysprosium scandate (contributed by Detlef Klimm, Leibniz Institute for Crystal Growth, Germany). Rare earth scandates are grown by the Czochralski method. The melting points are beyond 2000°C.

Nature provides us with beautiful and sometimes giant crystals. However, people worldwide put extraordinary effort into growing specific crystals, driven by a thirst for knowledge and beauty, and also to satisfy the needs of modern society for novel devices and applications. Thus, each artificially grown crystal is the result of a mixture of science, technology and inventiveness.

Every crystal grower in the world is invited to submit images of the crystals they have grown. This invitation is extended not only to scientists working in public institutions or private companies but also to nonprofessional crystal growers. Each image will be accompanied by information about the crystal, the method used to grow it and its main applications.

All images will be available for download and use for education or other purposes, with the sole obligation being to acknowledge the contributor. The website will also provide links to improve knowledge and feed curiosity. The call for pictures opens officially on the iycr2014.org website on October 15, 2013. Thus, we’ll be waiting for your best crystal pictures.

Andrea Zappettini, Chair, IUCr Commission on Crystal Growth and Characterization of Materials