title: Dissolution dynamics of NaCl nanocrystal in liquid water.
abstract: The dissolution dynamics of a NaCl nanocrystal in liquid water was studied using molecular dynamics simulations. The dissolution process was found to start with a Cl(-) ion at a corner site, followed by a Na(+) ion nearby. Both show directional preference in the dissolution path. An ion sequence with alternating charge, i.e., Cl(-), Na(+), Cl(-), Na(+), etc. was found to dominate the dissolution process. This image can be understood from the ionic hydration structures and the Coulomb interaction between the ions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shiwu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao