Large-scale supramolecular structure in solutions of low molar mass compounds and mixtures of liquids: II. Kinetics of the formation and long-time stability.

Kinetics of the formation of large-scale supramolecular structure and its long-time stability were investigated in detail in solutions of electrolytes, nonelectrolytes, and mixtures of liquids. This structure comprises submicron-sized domains (large clusters) with higher solute concentration than in the rest of solution. In the case of mixtures of liquids, a complete real-time monitoring of the structure formation was possible in all cases. In the case of solutions of solid samples, the observation was possible in cases when the structure formation was significantly slower than the dissolution process. The time scale on which the supramolecular structure develops varies from minutes to weeks, depending on the concrete system. The long-time stability of the developed structure was investigated in time intervals ranging up to 15 months. In some systems the resulting domain structure appears stable, in others a very slow ceasing of domains is observed over very long time intervals. In all cases, however, slow kinetic effects are present in the systems investigated. Among others, data on some common substances of great chemical and biological importance such as sodium chloride, acetic acid, glucose, and ethanol, are presented.