Nature's nanocrystals hold lessons for researchers

Engineers at Sandia National Lab are studying these structures to uncover ways to build similar structures using low-temperature, environmentally benign methods. Currently, they are using low temperatures and chemical concentrations in an aqueous environment rather than the high temperatures, high concentrations, and organic solvent method more widely used to build nanocrystals. So far, the team has been able to control where and how crystals form.