The Role of Water Dimers in the Initial Stage of Salt Crystallization.

ABSTRACT: Probing early-stage crystallization in hydrated environments is crucial for elucidating the microscopic mechanism of crystal growth. However, capturing these processes remains challenging because of the nanometric dimensions of nanocrystals and the dynamic role of water in solvation and ion-ion interactions. Here, we employ a cryogenic scanning probe microscopy platform, which integrates qPlus-type atomic force microscopy with a frozen-solution preparation technique, to directly visualize hydrated sodium chloride (NaCl) nanocrystals at atomic resolution. We observe double- to 5-stranded ionic chain structures, which are hydrated by water dimers. Those structures promote the anisotropic growth of NaCl nanocrystals. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the water dimer can subst

SUBMITTER: Guo J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12722634 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature