An anisotropic phase-field crystal model for heterogeneous nucleation of ellipsoidal colloids

We derive a generalized model for isotropic as well as anisotropic crystal lattice systems of arbitrary Poisson ratio within the framework of the continuum phase-field crystal (PFC) approach (Elder and Grant 2004 Phys. Rev. E 70 051606). To this end we extend the simplest PFC model defined by a free energy functional, which is based upon the Swift-Hohenberg model of pattern formation (Swift and Hohenberg 1993 Phys. Rev. A 15 851) to a conservative, anisotropic Langevin equation. By studying heterogeneous nucleation of ellipsoidal colloids at a wall, we demonstrate the capacity of our approach to contribute to the more precise understanding of condensed matter systems built up from non-spherical units at the atomic scale. In particular we address the question of how (a) the orientation of the ellipsoids as well as (b) the interaction potential with the wall determine the resulting contact angle.