Title: Controlling non-equilibrium processes for fractal growth

Abstract

Fractal structures are commonly found in nature. This work demonstrates the growth of tin oxide (SnO2) fractals on large-area glass substrate. Growth of fractals with fractal dimensions varying from 1.52 to 1.86 were successfully grown. The shape of fractals changed from rhombohedra to fern-like to sword-shaped fractals. The flux, temperature and pH of the solution is understood to play an influential role in the final shape of the fractals. The fractal structures have significant surface roughness and therefore have many adsorption sites. These sites are interconnected by the inherent nature of fractals and therefore may exhibit better charge transport properties. The experiments are underway to optimize the charge transport observed in fractals and investigate their gas sensing response. A better understanding of the growth of fractals may lead to better predictions of material failure in fields like lithium-ion batteries or in alloy formation. Better properties may also lead to applications in gas sensing, potential SERS-substrates, wound healing phenomenon, etc. Thus, growth of fractal structures and a control over their morphology is the fundamental step to be addressed. The present work is an effort in this direction.