We report a mechanism for nucleation in a monolayer of hexagonally packed monodisperse droplet arrays. Upon cooling, we observe solidified droplets to nucleate their supercooled neighbors giving rise to an autocatalyticlike mechanism for accelerated crystallization. This collective mode of nucleation depends on the strength and nature of droplet contacts. Intriguingly, the statistical distribution of the solidified droplet clusters is found to be independent of emulsion characteristics except surfactant. In contrast to classical nucleation theory, our work highlights the need to consider collective effects of nucleation in supercooled concentrated emulsions where droplet crowding is inevitable.

中文翻译：

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六方堆积二维乳状液的集体成核动力学

我们报告了六方堆积的单分散液滴阵列单层成核的机制。冷却后，我们观察到凝固的液滴使它们的过冷邻居形核，从而产生类似自催化的机制来加速结晶。这种成核的集体模式取决于液滴接触的强度和性质。有趣的是，除表面活性剂外，固化液滴簇的统计分布与乳液特性无关。与经典的成核理论相反，我们的工作强调需要考虑在不可避免的液滴拥挤的过冷浓缩乳液中成核的集体效应。