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Collective nucleation dynamics in two-dimensional emulsions with hexagonal packing

Samira Abedi, Chau-Chyun Chen, and Siva A. Vanapalli
Phys. Rev. E 101, 030602(R) – Published 25 March 2020
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Abstract

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.

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  • Received 23 October 2019
  • Accepted 9 March 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.101.030602

©2020 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied PhysicsPolymers & Soft Matter

Authors & Affiliations

Samira Abedi, Chau-Chyun Chen*, and Siva A. Vanapalli*

  • Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409-3121, USA

  • *Corresponding authors: chauchyun.chen@ttu.edu; siva.vanapalli@ttu.edu

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Issue

Vol. 101, Iss. 3 — March 2020

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