The dependence of quasiliquid thickness on the liquid activity: A bulk thermodynamic theory of the interface
Abstract
Studies of the phenomenon of quasiliquid formation span systems as diverse as noble gases, complex organic molecules and metals, with triple point temperatures ranging from 25 to 933 K. When viewed as a single phenomenon, essentially all published measurements of the quasiliquid layer thickness on solids below the melting point may be plotted as two universal functions of the thermodynamic activity. The two classes of behavior that are observed distinguish molecular and atomic systems. We derive this universal dependence on activity through a grand canonical lattice gas calculation. This is the only such unifying theory of this phenomenon. By far the most extensively studied quasiliquid system is the H2O ice/liquid surface. We collect the data on this ice and discuss the phenomenon in the context of our new theory. The application of this thermodynamic theory to the prediction of interfacial solution concentrations is also discussed.
- Publication:
-
APS March Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- March 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004APS..MARV21005H