A team of researchers at Yale University is the first to devise a way to predict the microstructure of crystals as they form in materials, according to a report in the September issue of Applied Physics Letters.

Although there are theoretical models that predict grain size and ways to monitor the growth of individual crystals, this new method makes it possible to estimate grain size and therefore the properties of materials that are dependant on microstructure.

Researchers in many fields including materials science, geology, physical chemistry and biochemistry will now be able to tailor material properties that are sensitive to microstructure.

According to senior author Ainissa G.