Influence of molecular symmetry on multiple pathways of crystallization

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 extremely supersaturated solutions (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.