Nuclei number density, nucleation kinetics and crystal polydispersity.

What is it about?

The paper presents a newly devised formula for calculation of the crystal nuclei number density as a function of both nucleation time and supersaturation. Also, the long-standing problem of crystal polydispersity and crystal size distribution is considered. It is shown that the prolonged nucleation period is the prime cause for the crystal polydispersity. The latter is augmented during the following crystal growth, but the mean size of the growing crystals remains inversely proportional to root third of the number of crystals per unit volume.

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Why is it important?

The results are important from both scientific and practical perspectives. For instance, relatively large crystals is needed for protein structure determinations by X-ray crystallography, whereas large number of small crystals is needed for `serial crystallography' by X-ray free-electron lasers. And if the desired number of crystals is not obtained serendipitously, the experimenter must generate crystals with the correct density, preferably, by targeted crystal nucleation. With this aim in view, practical advices how to control the number and the size distribution of crystals growing from solutions are given in this paper.