How Crystal Size and Number Steer Asymmetric Crystallization.

Area of Science:

• Crystallization dynamics
• Chemical kinetics
• Materials science

Background:

• Chiral amplification in crystallization is driven by population asymmetries.
• The kinetic drivers of these asymmetric growth rates are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally investigate how size and mass imbalances between enantiomeric crystal populations influence asymmetric growth rates.
• To elucidate the kinetic selection mechanisms governing chiral amplification.

Main Methods:

• Experimental investigation of crystal populations with varying size and mass.
• Analysis of asymmetric growth rates and their dependence on population imbalances.
• Control of growth rates to study amplification effects.

Main Results:

• Interplay between size and mass imbalances leads to positive, linear, or negative nonlinear chiral amplification.
• Minority small crystals can outgrow and dominate majority larger crystals, despite higher solubility.
• Growth rate control can enhance or dampen size-effect-driven amplification.

Conclusions:

• A kinetic selection mechanism driven by population-level growth rates governs chiral amplification.
• Findings provide insights into nonlinear amplification origins and practical guidance for asymmetric crystallization and self-assembly.