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Kinetics of crystallization in hard-sphere colloidal suspensions

Journal Article · · Physical Review E
We propose a kinetic model for describing crystal nucleation kinetics in hard-sphere colloidal suspensions. The model captures the interplay between the enhanced thermodynamic driving force and the reduced particle diffusivity in determining crystal nucleation rates as the particle density is increased in hard-sphere suspensions. Model calculations of nucleation rates and crystal growth velocities agree quantitatively with experimental observations. The dependence of the critical cluster size on volume fraction that emerges differs qualitatively from predictions of classical theories allowing for an experimental validation of the mechanism of crystal nucleation in colloidal suspensions.
Sponsoring Organization:
(US)
OSTI ID:
40277159
Journal Information:
Physical Review E, Journal Name: Physical Review E Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 64; ISSN 1063-651X
Publisher:
The American Physical Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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