Extended Data Fig. 3: Dynamics of the interfacial structure on mica surface in 1 mM AlCl3 at high pH conditions (above pH 5) revealed by in-situ AFM.
From: How charge frustration causes ion ordering and microphase separation at surfaces
a, b, The growth of the upper layered Al(OH)3 films on the top of the first layer at pH 5.1 and at pH 6.9. c, At higher pH levels (above PZC), these films begin to dissolve. d, e, A high-resolution AFM image and FFT pattern reveal that these upper-layered films are well crystalline with a lattice structure consistent with gibbsite. f-j, in-situ AFM images capture the nucleation of the upper-layered films. k-o, in-situ AFM images capture the growth of the upper-layered films. These films exhibit distinct dynamics compared to the first layer and follow the expectations by the classical nucleation model.
