Calcium carbonate prenucleation clusters : towards unification of classical and non-classical nucleation theory

The aim of this PhD was to develop analytical methods to characterize the physical and chemical characteristics of calcium carbonate prenucleation clusters and their role in the mineral nucleation process. A novel sample environment was developed to allow fast in situ and ex situ kinetic experiments when coupled to synchrotron and neutron radiation techniques. The results obtained through these experiments support findings from previous computer simulations and define the impact of pH and saturation state on the very early stages of calcium carbonate mineral formation via non-classical nucleation processes.