A phase field crystal study of heterogeneous nucleation - Application of the string method

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Abstract

We use the simplified string method in order to examine two dimensional heterogeneous nucleation at a wall and on a substrate. The material is described by a phase field crystal model and the influence of the wall or substrate is included by an external potential. Tuning the external potential we show that we can control the contact angle in equilibrium and misfit to a substrate. The nucleation barrier is reduced by a wall, but cannot be explained by classical nucleation theory due to non-classical nucleation paths. For small misfits a substrate also decreases the nucleation barrier, while large misfits increases the nucleation barrier.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)497–509
JournalEuropean Physical Journal Special Topics
Volume223
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 84894694308

Keywords

Keywords

  • phase field crystal model

Library keywords