Intermediate Phases Speed Nanoparticle Crystallization

Cornell researchers show mesophases act as stepping stones to faster, higher-quality crystal formation.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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A new study from Cornell University demonstrates that mesophases - states of matter between fully disordered fluids and solid crystals - can act as important intermediate steps that make the crystallization of nanoparticles faster and more reliable. The researchers used advanced computer simulations to study how nanoparticles transition from disorder to crystalline order, finding that systems passing through a mesophase crystallized more quickly than those attempting a single-step transition.

Why it matters

Crystalline nanomaterials have valuable properties for technologies like data storage and optical devices, but forming nanoparticles into the intended crystal structure is challenging. This research provides new design rules for scientists working with nanomaterials, showing how to plan conditions that help particles assemble in the right sequence and avoid dead ends where materials form the wrong crystal.

The details

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that mesophases reduce the free energy barriers that slow the crystallization process. Just as breaking a high jump into two smaller steps makes it easier, the mesophase acts as an intermediate state that facilitates the transition to the final crystalline structure. The researchers were able to quantify the free energy barriers and crystallization rates, confirming that mesophases can speed up the process by orders of magnitude. Mesophases also present an opportunity to improve crystal quality by making it easier to anneal defects in the more mobile, flexible intermediate phase.

  • The study was published on February 26, 2026.

The players

Fernando Escobedo

The Samuel W. and M. Diane Bodman Professor in the R.F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Cornell University and the senior author of the study.

B.P. Prakash

A Ph.D. student at Cornell University and a co-author of the study.

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What they’re saying

“People had suspected that mesophases might be helpful because they're en route to a crystalline state. What we show is that mesophases really do serve as stepping stones, providing a kind of golden path toward crystallization.”

— Fernando Escobedo, Professor (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

“It's a lot easier to anneal defects in a mesophase because it's a more mobile, more flexible phase. There are different ways you can ensure that it's a more homogeneous state and then when that phase crystallizes, you end up with fewer defects.”

— Fernando Escobedo, Professor (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

The takeaway

This research provides new insights into how to design nanomaterials more effectively, showing that intentionally using intermediate mesophase states can lead to faster, higher-quality crystal formation compared to attempting a single-step transition. By understanding how these in-between phases can act as stepping stones, scientists can develop better strategies for assembling nanomaterials with the desired properties.