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Additive-specific modulation of non-classical nucleation pathways
Annet Baken1,2, Alejandro Fernandez-Martinez2, Martine Lanson2
1ESRF, European Synchotron Radiation Facility, ID15a Materials Science Beamline, Grenoble, France.
Nature Communications
|January 22, 2026
Summary
Additives control crystallization by influencing mineral nucleation pathways, with distinct effects on portlandite and gypsum. These molecules impact prenucleation stages, offering insights for industrial applications and biomineralization.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Geochemistry
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Additives are vital for controlling material crystallization, but their mechanisms are not fully understood.
- Understanding additive effects is crucial for optimizing industrial crystallization processes and biomineralization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of additives on the nucleation pathways of portlandite and gypsum.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which additives influence mineral crystallization.
Main Methods:
- In situ high-energy X-ray scattering.
- Potentiometric titrations.
- Integration of scattering and titration techniques.
Main Results:
- Portlandite and gypsum exhibit distinct multistep nucleation pathways: gradual transition for portlandite and abrupt for gypsum.
- Additives influence nucleation primarily during the prenucleation stage, extending beyond classical models.
- Additives exhibit a dual role, affecting different nucleation stages asynchronously.
Conclusions:
- Mineral-specific additive effects correlate with distinct non-classical nucleation pathways and pH conditions.
- Findings provide a basis for designing tailored additives for industrial crystallization and biomineralization.
- Additive influence on crystallization is complex and multifaceted, impacting prenucleation and subsequent stages.
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