title: Entropy-driven crystallization in dense systems of athermal chain molecules.
abstract: We describe the direct observation of entropy-driven crystallization in simulations of dense packings of linear hard-sphere chains. Crystal nuclei form spontaneously in the phase coexistence region independently of chain length. Incipient nuclei consistently develop well defined, stack-faulted layered morphologies with a single stacking direction. These morphologies deviate markedly from those of monomeric analogs. The ordering transition is driven by the increase in translational entropy: ordered sites exhibit enhanced mobility as their local free volume becomes more spherical and symmetric.
authors: Institute for Optoelectronics and Microsystems (ISOM) and ETSII, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Nikos Ch
authors: NCh
authors: Karayiannis
authors: Katerina
authors: K
authors: Foteinopoulou
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Laso
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D003460:Crystallization; D019277:Entropy; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances