Nucleation rates and induction times during colloidal crystallization: links between models and experiments

Area of Science:

• Physical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Classical nucleation theories often overlook dynamic changes in monomer concentration during crystallization.
• Discrepancies exist between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements of nucleation rates due to differing definitions of quantities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a kinetic model for crystal nucleation and growth that links model parameters to experimental nucleation kinetics.
• To address limitations in classical nucleation theories by incorporating the reduction of monomer concentration and refining quantity definitions.

Main Methods:

• Development of a kinetic model for cluster size distribution evolution.
• Integration of monomer concentration reduction as a key factor influencing nucleation driving force.
• Comparison of model predictions with experimental data for nucleation rates, crystal growth velocities, and induction times.

Main Results:

• The kinetic model accurately predicts nucleation rates, crystal growth velocities, and induction times for hard sphere colloidal suspensions.
• Demonstrated that decreasing monomer concentration significantly reduces nucleation rates, a factor often neglected.
• The model reconciles discrepancies between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements.

Conclusions:

• The presented kinetic model offers a more accurate framework for understanding and predicting crystal nucleation and growth.
• Accounting for monomer depletion and refining quantity definitions is crucial for accurate nucleation kinetics modeling.
• This work provides a valuable tool for optimizing crystallization processes in various scientific and industrial applications.