supersaturation

This state is called supersaturation. Molecules are more prone to leave the gas than to rejoin it, so they become deposited on the surface of the container. Supersaturation can be induced by maintaining the crystal at a lower temperature than the gas. A critical stage in the growth of…

In such a situation, termed supersaturation, agglomeration of adatoms to form crystal nuclei is favoured. Surface energy requirements show that, at any degree of supersaturation, nuclei of certain dimensions are stable and can represent sites for further growth, as shown in Figure 3C.

…certain circumstances, to bring about supersaturation (a state in which the concentration exceeds the equilibrium value), such solutions or vapours are unstable and spontaneously revert to the saturated state.