Dissolution at the Nanoscale: Self‐Preservation of Biominerals

Abstract

Dissolution of nanosized crystallites may be inhibited and even suppressed due to their small size. Nanoparticles with size distribution similar to that of critical dissolution pits (see picture) can be kinetically stabilized against further dissolution even in undersaturated solutions. In biological systems, this behavior confers remarkable self-preservation on biominerals in the fluctuating milieu.