A rich spectrum of crystal patterns are observed when a drop ofionic
or protein solution evaporates on a solid substrate. Other thanthe
well-known crystal fingers from homogeneous crystallization,heterogeneous
crystallization at the contact line produces stripe
andfractal
patterns at much smaller length scales between 20 and 200microns.
Such patterns are shown to result from interplay amongcrystallization,
contact-line
motion, non-uniform evaporation anddiffusion
within the precursor films of wetting drops. Universalcorrelations
among pattern length scale, bulk concentration andcrystal
size are established and explained theoretically.Heterogeneous
crystallization is also shown to modify thecontact-line
dynamics to produce macroscopic stain topologies likecircles,
bands, crescents, stars etc.
Concentric bands of a protein (Albumin) crystal 1 mm in
diameter and
10 to 100 microns in width are also found when a 1 mm
drop of protein
solution evaporates.