In situ X-ray studies of adlayer-induced crystal nucleation at the liquid–liquid interface

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 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 , 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.