title: In situ X-ray studies of adlayer-induced crystal nucleation at the liquid-liquid interface.
abstract: Crystal nucleation and growth at a liquid-liquid interface is studied on the atomic scale by in situ Å-resolution X-ray scattering methods for the case of liquid Hg and an electrochemical dilute electrolyte containing Pb(2+), F(-), and Br(-) ions. In the regime negative of the Pb amalgamation potential Φ(rp) = -0.70 V, no change is observed from the surface-layered structure of pure Hg. Upon potential-induced release of Pb(2+) from the Hg bulk at Φ > Φ(rp), the formation of an intriguing interface structure is observed, comprising a well-defined 7.6-Å-thick adlayer, decorated with structurally related 3D crystallites. Both are identified by their diffraction peaks as PbFBr, preferentially aligned with their axis along the interface normal. X-ray reflectivity shows the adlayer to consist of a stack of five ionic layers, forming a single-unit-cell-thick crystalline PbFBr precursor film, which acts as a template for the subsequent quasiepitaxial 3D crystal growth. This growth behavior is assigned to the combined action of electrostatic and short-range chemical interactions.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental and Applied Physics, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elsen
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Festersen
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Runge
authors.forename: Christian T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Koops
authors.forename: Benjamin M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ocko
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deutsch
authors.forename: Oliver H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Seeck
authors.forename: Bridget M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Olaf M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Magnussen
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D055672:Static Electricity; D017356:Synchrotrons
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D008670:Metals; D008628:Mercury
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