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D.V. Kalinin, J.V. Kuznetsova, V.V. Serdobintseva
Supramolecular crystallization in alcohol suspensions of monodispersed spherical silica particles at a high degree of deionization of dispersed medium (pH~7–7,8) is limited by sedimentation of structural units. The rate of linear growth of supramolecular crystals is a limiting stage, when the concentration of potential forming electrolyte (pH~7,8–10,5) increases or the admixture of indifferent (inert) electrolytes is available. In this case the volumetric crystallization occurs within the concentrated layer. The model, used for concentrated media describes nucleation. The frequency of generation of nuclei of critical size therewith is a twice, inverse, exponential function of the energy of electrostatic repulsion of structural units, that dominates over the energy of molecular gravitation. The scientific foundation of the search for deposits of noble opal and the searching specific criteria are presented in the article.