Impact of molecular symmetry on crystallization pathways in highly supersaturated KH2PO4 solutions

Yong Chan Cho, Sooheyong Lee, Lei Wang, Yun-Hee Lee, Seongheun Kim, Hyun-Hwi Lee, John Jonghyun Lee and Geun Woo Lee ()
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Yong Chan Cho: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
Sooheyong Lee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
Lei Wang: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
Yun-Hee Lee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
Seongheun Kim: POSTECH
Hyun-Hwi Lee: POSTECH
John Jonghyun Lee: Iowa State University
Geun Woo Lee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Solute structure and its evolution in supersaturated aqueous solutions are key clues to understand Ostwald’s step rule. Here, we measure the structural evolution of solute molecules in highly supersaturated solutions of KH2PO4 (KDP) and NH4H2PO4 (ADP) using a combination of electrostatic levitation and synchrotron X-ray scattering. The measurement reveals the existence of a solution-solution transition in KDP solution, caused by changing molecular symmetries and structural evolution of the solution with supersaturation. Moreover, we find that the molecular symmetry of H2PO4- impacts on phase selection. These findings manifest that molecular symmetry and its structural evolution can govern the crystallization pathways in aqueous solutions, explaining the microscopic origin of Ostwald’s step rule.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47503-1

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