Multistage nucleation pathway in LiF molten salt mirrors the crystal-melt interface structure.

ABSTRACT: Despite over a century of studies, fundamental questions remain about the processes governing crystal nucleation from melts or solutions. Research over the past three decades has presented mounting evidence for kinetic pathways of crystal nucleation that are more complex than envisioned by the simplest forms of classical theory. Such observations have been presented for colloidal and elemental systems with covalent and metallic bonding. Despite the technological and geochemical importance of molten salts, similar studies for these ionically bonded systems are currently lacking. Here we develop a machine learning interatomic potential for a model ionic system: LiF. The potential features quantum-level accuracy for both liquid and multiple solid polymorphs over wide temperature and pressure

SUBMITTER: Fan Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12207450 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature