Curvature- and temperature-dependent interfacial tension in classical nucleation theory

Curvature- and temperature-dependent interfacial tension is introduced in classical nucleation theory (CT-CNT). In this case, the nucleation rate depends on temperature, T, viscosity, η, the reduced surface tension, , the difference between the chemical functions of the liquid and solid phase, Δμ, and unlike with the common classical nucleation theory (CNT), also on the derivative of this function, ∂Δμ/∂T. Because of this latter dependency, the nucleation rate is highly sensitive to Δμ and no approximation formula can be used for this function. Kauzmann's catastrophe can be introduced artificially by approximation formulas that are commonly used in CNT. The latter theory is not sensitive to this problem.