Small changes in particle-size distribution dramatically delay and enhance nucleation in hard sphere colloidal suspensions.
We present hard-sphere crystallization kinetics for three samples with small differences in polydispersity. We show that an increase in polydispersity of 1% is sufficient to cause dramatic changes in the crystallization kinetics: crystallization is delayed by almost one decade in time and quantitative and qualitative changes in the crystallization scenario are observed. Surprisingly the nucleation rate density is enhanced by almost a factor of 10. We interpret these results in terms of polydispersity limited growth, where local fractionation processes lead to a delayed but faster nucleation.
Schöpe
Hans Joachim
HJ
Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Staudingerweg 7, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.
Bryant
Gary
G
van Megen
William
W