Single crystal growth via a grain rotation mechanism within amorphous matrix

The molecular dynamics simulations were applied to study the crystallization of Ag from an amorphous matrix. The results show that the spontaneously crystallized nuclei interact with the amorphous phase, undergoing a rotation and realignment process, promote the crystallization of amorphous phase, and finally form a single crystalline nanostructure. Our results not only provide a system for the theoretical study on the amorphous formation and its function in the crystal growth but also break a path for producing single crystals. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3001576]