Line-tension-induced scenario of heterogeneous nucleation on a spherical substrate and in a spherical cavity
Abstract
Line-tension-induced scenario of heterogeneous nucleation is studied for a lens-shaped nucleus with a finite contact angle nucleated on a spherical substrate and on the bottom of the wall of a spherical cavity. The effect of line tension on the free energy of a critical nucleus can be separated from the usual volume term. By comparing the free energy of a lens-shaped critical nucleus of a finite contact angle with that of a spherical nucleus, we find that a spherical nucleus may have a lower free energy than a lens-shaped nucleus when the line tension is positive and large, which is similar to the drying transition predicted by Widom [B. Widom, J. Phys. Chem. 99, 2803 (1995)]. Then, the homogeneous nucleation rather than the heterogeneous nucleation will be favorable. Similarly, the free energy of a lens-shaped nucleus becomes negative when the line tension is negative and large. Then, the barrier-less nucleation with no thermal activation called athermal nucleation will be realized.
- Publication:
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Journal of Chemical Physics
- Pub Date:
- July 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.4923237
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1506.05874
- Bibcode:
- 2015JChPh.143a4701I
- Keywords:
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- Condensed Matter - Soft Condensed Matter
- E-Print:
- 13 pages, 13 figures, Journal of Chemical Physics to be published