Crystallization kinetics and excess free energy of H2O and D2O nanoscale films of amorphous solid water

Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) are used to investigate the crystallization kinetics and measure the excess free energy of metastable amorphous solid water films (ASW) of H(2)O and D(2)O grown using molecular beams. The desorption rates from the amorphous and crystalline phases of ASW are distinct, and as such, crystallization manifests can be observed in the TPD spectrum. The crystallization kinetics were studied by varying the TPD heating rate from 0.001 to 3 K/s. A coupled desorption-crystallization kinetic model accurately simulates the desorption spectra and accurately predicts the observed temperature shifts in the crystallization. Isothermal crystallization studies using RAIRS are in agreement with the TPD results. Furthermore, highly sensitive measurements of the desorption rates were used to determine the excess free energy of ASW near 150 K. The excess entropy obtained from these data is consistent with there being a thermodynamic continuity between ASW and supercooled liquid water.     

Molecular dynamics study of the crystallization of nitromethane from the melt

The crystallization of nitromethane, CH(3)NO(2), from the melt on the (100), (010), (001), and (110) crystal surfaces at 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, and 220 K has been investigated using constant-volume and -temperature (NVT) molecular dynamics simulations with a realistic, fully flexible force field [D. C. Sorescu, B. M. Rice, and D. L. Thompson, J. Phys. Chem. B 104, 8406 (2000)]. The crystallization process and the nature of the solid-liquid interface have been investigated by computing the molecular orientations, density, and radial distribution functions as functions of time and location in the simulation cell. During crystallization the translational motion of the molecules ceases first, after which molecular rotation ceases as the molecules assume proper orientations in the crystal lattice. The methyl groups are hindered rotors in the liquid; hindrance to rotation is reduced upon crystallization. The width of the solid-liquid interface varies between 6 and 13 ? (about two to five molecular layers) depending on which crystal surface is exposed to the melt and which order parameter is used to define the interface. The maximum rate of crystallization varies from 0.08 molecules ns(-1) ?(-2) for the (010) surface at 190 K to 0.41 molecules ns(-1) ?(-2) for the (001) surface at 220 K.     

Two-dimensional crystallization of hard sphere particles at a liquid–liquid interface

A method for studying crystallization of hard sphere like particles in two dimensions is presented. The method involves trapping the particles at the interface between two immiscible liquids. Particles at the interface undergo 2D Brownian motion, and at sufficiently high densities crystallization is observed. The pseudo hard sphere nature of the particle interactions under these conditions is maintained, as demonstrated by the area density at which crystallization occurs. In contrast to established techniques for studying crystallization in pseudo 2D hard spheres, the particles trapped at the interface undergo no vertical motion, so the system is in principle closer to a true 2D system. The method is therefore amenable to the study of the effects of polydispersity on crystallization behaviour. The advantages and disadvantages of the method are discussed.     

Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of in situ nylon 6/graphene composites by differential scanning calorimetry

The nonisothermal crystallization kinetics was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry for the nylon 6/graphene composites prepared by in situ polymerization. The Avrami theory modified by Jeziorny, Ozawa equation, and Mo equation was used to describe the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics. The analysis based on the Avrami theory modified by Jeziorny shows that, at lower cooling rates (at 5, 10, and 20 K/min), the nylon 6/graphene composites have lower crystallization rate than pure nylon 6. However, at higher cooling rates (at 40 K/min), the nylon 6/graphene composites have higher crystallization rate than pure nylon 6. The values of Avrami exponent m and the cooling crystallization function F(T) from Ozawa plots indicate that the mode of the nucleation and growth at initial stage of the nonisothermal crystallization may be as follows: two‐dimensional (2D), then one‐dimensional (1D) for all samples at 5–10 °C/min; three‐dimensional (3D) or complicated than 3D, then 2D and 1D at 10–20 and 20–40 °C/min. The good linearity of the Mo plots indicated that the combined approach could successfully describe the crystallization processes of the nylon 6 and nylon 6/graphene composites. The activation energies (ΔE) of the nylon 6/graphene composites, determined by Kissinger method, were lower than those of pure nylon 6. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 49: 1381–1388, 2011     

Application of TMA and DTA for study of the crystallization behaviour of SiO2 in the thermal transformation of kaolinite

TMA/DTMA with DTA studies on the thermal changes of kaolinite were performed with special emphasis on the crystallization behaviour of amorphous SiO₂. The results of four different physical techniques (semiquantitative XRD, DTA, TMA and DTMA) were clearly in good agreement with the fact that the 1420°C exotherm in DTA is due to silica crystallization.Thanks to Dr. B. K. Sarkor, Director of the Institute for his kind permission to publish the paper and to Mr. D. K. Ahosh for his needful suggestions.     

Morphological investigation on melt crystallized polylactide homo‐ and stereocopolymers by enzymatic degradation with proteinase K

Polylactide (PLA) homo‐ and stereocopolymers containing 100, 98, 96, 94, and 92% L ‐lactyl units, respectively, were synthesized by ring opening polymerization of L ‐lactide and DL ‐Lactide, using zinc lactate as catalyst. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis measurements show that incorporation of D ‐lactyl units leads to decrease of the crystallization rate of the copolymers. However, the crystallization mechanism and the amount of crystallizable fraction are not affected. The enzymatic degradation was performed at 37 °C in a pH 8.6 Tris buffer containing proteinase K. Two distinct morphologies were obtained by melt crystallization for PLA films with ca. 80 μm of thickness. It is confirmed that proteinase K can degrade both the free and confined amorphous regions. Lamella stacks in spherulites retain their orientation during enzymatic degradation. PLA crystal morphologies are affected by the content of D ‐lactyl units. Factors such as the nucleus location and the D ‐lactyl units' exclusion as amorphous fraction were considered to elucidate the observed PLA spherulite morphologies. Infrared spectroscopy and mass loss measurements were also combined to better understand the degradation behaviors. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 959–970, 2008     

左旋聚乳酸的结晶行为研究

用DSC, WAXD和POM对Zn催化剂制备的左旋聚乳酸(PLLA)的熔体结晶行为进行了研究. 在95~125 ℃范围内, PLLA熔体结晶生成厚度约(14±1) nm的片晶, 该片晶不易发生熔体等温增厚. 对实验数据分别用Avrami方程和Arrhenius方程进行了计算, Avrami指数n=3±0.3, 表明PLLA以球晶形式生长, 其最大结晶速率温度为(105.0±0.5) ℃, t1/2约为5.2 min. 利用Lauritzen-Hoffmann（LH）理论对PLLA结晶机理进行了分析, 发现PLLA结晶的Regime Ⅱ和Regime Ⅲ的转变温度为107 ℃. Kg(Ⅱ)和Kg(Ⅲ)分别为4.57×105 K2和1.115×106 K2, 且Kg(Ⅲ)/Kg(Ⅱ)=2.4, 与LH理论值一致.     

Protein crystallization at the air/water interface induced by shearing bulk flow

We have observed 2D protein crystallization under conditions where in the absence of flow, crystallization fails to occur. Even under conditions where crystallization does occur in quiescent systems, we have found that flow can accelerate the crystallization process. By interrogating the flow responsible for this enhanced crystallization, we have correlated the enhancement with large shear in the plane of the interface. Some possible mechanisms for why interfacial shear can enhance the crystallization process are proposed.     

Thermodynamic, structural, and dynamic properties of supercooled water confined in mesoporous MCM-41 studied with calorimetric, neutron diffraction, and neutron spin echo measurements

Thermodynamic, structural, and dynamic properties of heavy water (D(2)O) confined in mesoporous silica glass MCM-41 C10, C12, and C14 were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, neutron diffraction, and neutron spin echo (NSE) measurements, respectively. The DSC data showed that no crystallization of D(2)O confined in C10 occurs in a temperature range between 298 and 180 K, and that crystalline ice is formed at 204 and 221 K for C12 and C14, respectively. For C10, the neutron radial distribution functions of confined D(2)O suggested a structural change in the supercooled state between 223 and 173 K. For C10 sample, it has been found that the tetrahedral-like water structure is partially enhanced in the central part of pores at 173 K. For all the samples, the intermediate scattering functions from the NSE measurements are fitted by the Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts stretched exponential function which implies that confined supercooled D(2)O exhibits a wide distribution of relaxation times. For C10, C12, and C14 samples, between 298 and 240 K, the relaxation times of supercooled D(2)O follow remarkably well the Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman equation; for C10 sample, below 240 K, the relaxation times of nonfreezing D(2)O show an Arrhenius type behavior. From the present experimental results on calorimetric, structural, and dynamic properties, it has been concluded that supercooled D(2)O confined in MCM-41 C10 experiences a transition from high-density to low-density hydrogen-bonded structure at around 229 K.     

Glass-liquid transition of vapor-deposited hexane studied using TOF-SIMS

Thermodynamic connection between liquid and glass is not obvious for poor glass formers. In this study, microscopic molecular diffusivity and macroscopic fluidity of vapor-deposited thin films of n-hexane were investigated using TOF-SIMS to elucidate the mechanism of the glass-liquid transition. The C 6H 14 film deposited at 15 K is characterized by a porous structure, as inferred from the intermixing with adsorbed C 6D 14 and D 2O molecules, as well as the formation of D 2O nanoclusters on the surface. The hexane molecules are reoriented at temperatures higher than 60-70 K, resulting in smoothing of the surface and densification of the film. Self-diffusion of the hexane molecules commences at 110 K; then, the film dewets the Ni(111) substrate after some aging time. Results indicate that ultraviscous liquid formed at the glass transition temperature of 110 K transforms into fluidized liquid immediately before crystallization. The D 2O molecules adsorbed onto the surface play a role as a surfactant, as evidenced by quenching the film dewetting. The ultraviscous liquid is likely to be a distinct phase, which might explain the absence of calorimetric glass transition for poor glass formers like hexane.     

The fragile-to-strong dynamic crossover transition in confined water: nuclear magnetic resonance results

By means of a nuclear magnetic resonance experiment, we give evidence of the existence of a fragile-to-strong dynamic crossover transition (FST) in confined water at a temperature T(L)=223+/-2 K. We have studied the dynamics of water contained in 1D cylindrical nanoporous matrices (MCM-41-S) in the temperature range 190-280 K, where experiments on bulk water were so far hampered by crystallization. The FST is clearly inferred from the T dependence of the inverse of the self-diffusion coefficient of water (1D) as a crossover point from a non-Arrhenius to an Arrhenius behavior. The combination of the measured self-diffusion coefficient D and the average translational relaxation time tau(T), as measured by neutron scattering, shows the predicted breakdown of Stokes-Einstein relation in deeply supercooled water.     

Transport in amorphous solid water films: implications for self-diffusivity

Thermal desorption spectroscopy is employed to examine transport mechanisms in structured, nanoscale films consisting of labeled amorphous solid water (ASW, H(2)(18)O, H(2)(16)O) and organic spacer layers (CCl(4), CHCl(3)) prior to ASW crystallization (T approximately 150-160 K). Self-transport is studied as a function of both the ASW layer and the organic spacer layer film thickness, and the effectiveness of these spacer layers as a bulk diffusion "barrier" is also investigated. Isothermal desorption measurements of structured films are combined with gas uptake measurements (CClF(2)H) to investigate water self-transport and changes in ASW film morphology during crystallization and annealing. CCl(4) desorption is employed as a means to investigate the effects of ASW film thickness and heating schedule on vapor-phase transport. Combined, these results demonstrate that the interlayer mixing observed near T approximately 150-160 K is inconsistent with a mechanism involving diffusion through a dense phase; rather, we propose that intermixing occurs via vapor-phase transport through an interconnected network of cracks/fractures created within the ASW film during crystallization. Consequently, the self-diffusivity of ASW prior to crystallization (T approximately 150-160 K) is significantly smaller than that expected for a "fragile" liquid, indicating that water undergoes either a glass transition or a fragile-to-strong transition at a temperature above 160 K.     

Structural changes above the glass transition and crystallization in aluminophosphate glasses: an in situ high-temperature MAS NMR study

We present an in situ high-temperature nuclear magnetic resonance study on the structural changes in aluminophosphate glasses occurring in the temperature range between the glass transition temperature Tg and the crystallization temperature Tc, Tg < T < Tc. Decisive changes in the network organization between Tg and Tc in potassium aluminophosphate glasses in the compositional range 50K2O-xAl2O3-(50 - x)P2O5 with 2.5 < x < 20 could be monitored for the first time employing 1D 31P- and 27Al-MAS NMR. Accompanying ex situ NMR experiments (31P-RFDR NMR and 31P-{27Al} CP-HETCOR NMR) on devitrified samples were performed at room temperature to further characterize the phases formed during the crystallization process. The structural role of boron-which is known to inhibit the crystallization process in these aluminophosphate glasses-on short and intermediate length scales was analyzed employing 11B-MQMAS, 11B-{27Al} TRAPDOR and 11B-{31P} REDOR NMR spectroscopy.     

Unveiling the Effect of Solvents on Crystallization and Morphology of 2D Perovskite in Solvent-Assisted Method

Controlling the crystallographic orientations of 2D perovskite is regarded as an effective way to improve the efficiency of PSCs based on 2D perovskite. In this paper, five different assistant solvents were selected to unveil the effect of solvents on crystallization and morphology of 2D perovskite in a solvent-assisted method. Results demonstrated that the effect of Lewis basicity on the crystallization process was the most important factor for preparing 2D perovskite. The stability of the intermediate, reacted between the solvent and the Pb²⁺, determined the quality of 2D film. The stronger the Lewis basicity was, the more obvious the accurate control effect on the top-down crystallization process of 2D perovskite would be. This could enhance the crystallographic orientation of 2D perovskite. The effect of Lewis basicity played a more important role than other properties of the solvent, such as boiling point and polarity.     

聚乙烯基环己烷-聚乙烯-聚乙烯基环己烷三嵌段共聚物溶液的受限结晶研究

嵌段共聚物由于组分间的化学不相容性而发生微相分离,组装成各种有序的纳米结构,如球、圆柱、层及双连续结构等．半晶型嵌段共聚物由于引入了能结晶的组分,使体系中存在两种相互竞争的过程,即微相分离与结晶,所以能形成更为丰富的有序结构．聚乙烯基环己烷-聚乙烯-聚乙烯基环己烷[Poly(Vinylcyclohexane)-b-poly(ethylene)-b-poly(vinylcyclohexane),     

多臂聚乳酸对线型聚乳酸结晶的促进作用

以多端羟基聚酯为引发剂,经丙交酯开环聚合得到多臂聚乳酸（MA-PLA）。 MA-PLA在DSC二次升温过程中,出现明显的冷结晶峰(41.5 J/g)和熔融峰(42.5 J/g),而工业产品聚乳酸PLLA 3051D没有这2个峰,确认该多臂聚乳酸的结晶能力优于3051D。 MA-PLA多臂聚乳酸的左旋乳酸单元含量为97%,高于3051D的91%。 将MA-PLA与PLLA-3051D共混后,在DSC二次升温过程中出现了熔融峰和冷结晶峰。 偏光显微镜观察表明,共混物的成核速率和初期球晶生长速度加快。 等温结晶动力学数据表明,110 ℃等温结晶的半结晶时间由空白样品的53.6 min缩短至共混物的31.7 min,Avrami指数n由空白样品的2.25增加至共混物的2.60,可见多臂聚乳酸对线形聚乳酸结晶性能的改善,主要是加快了成核速率。     

Disappearing Enantiomorphs: Single Handedness in Racemate Crystals

Although crystallization is the most important method for the separation of enantiomers of chiral molecules in the chemical industry, the chiral recognition involved in this process is poorly understood at the molecular level. We report on the initial steps in the formation of layered racemate crystals from a racemic mixture, as observed by STM at submolecular resolution. Grown on a copper single‐crystal surface, the chiral hydrocarbon heptahelicene formed chiral racemic lattice structures within the first layer. In the second layer, enantiomerically pure domains were observed, underneath which the first layer contained exclusively the other enantiomer. Hence, the system changed from a 2D racemate into a 3D racemate with enantiomerically pure layers after exceeding monolayer‐saturation coverage. A chiral bias in form of a small enantiomeric excess suppressed the crystallization of one double‐layer enantiomorph so that the pure minor enantiomer crystallized only in the second layer.     

Ordering and Clathrate Hydrate Formation in Co‐deposits of Xenon and Water at Low Temperatures

Local ordering in co‐deposits of water and xenon atoms produced at low temperatures can be followed uniquely by ¹²⁹Xe NMR spectroscopy. In water‐rich samples deposited at 10 K and observed at 77 K, xenon NMR results show that there is a wide distribution of arrangements of water molecules around xenon atoms. This starts to order into the definite coordination for the structure I, large and small cages, when samples are annealed at ～140 K, although the process is not complete until a temperature of 180 K is reached, as shown by powder Xray diffraction. There is evidence that Xe ? 20 H₂O clusters are prominent in the early stages of crystallization. In xenon‐rich deposits at 77 K there is evidence of xenon atoms trapped in Xe ? 20 H₂O clusters, which are similar to the small hydration shells or cages observed in hydrate structures, but not in the larger water clusters consisting of 24 or 28 water molecules. These observations are in agreement with results obtained on the formation of Xe hydrate on the surface of ice surfaces by using hyperpolarized Xe NMR spectroscopy. The results indicate that for the various different modes of hydrate formation, both from Xe reacting with amorphous water and with crystalline ice surfaces, versions of the small cage are important structures in the early stages of crystallization.     

溶液间歇结晶过程成核与生长阶段的定量识别

为定量识别溶液间歇结晶过程中的成核和生长阶段,基于晶粒数目和粒度的变化对粒度分布(CSD)的二阶和三阶矩量影响程度的不同,定义并关联了无因次变量K和K^*.添加晶种KNO₃-H₂O溶液结晶过程模拟计算的结果表明,K和K^*值均呈先降后升的变化趋势,成核时单调下降,生长过程中单调上升;且K与K^*值较接近.测定了KNO₃-H₂O溶液自发成核结晶过程中溶液浓度和透光率的变化,用K^*判据定量识别出成核阶段和生长阶段,并与晶体线性生长速率模型检验的结果相吻合.K值的计算依赖于CSD和结晶动力学参数,而K^*作为成核和生长阶段的模型判据,由实验测定的溶液浓度和透光率计算得到.     

Non-isothermal crystallization of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing a high weight fraction of graphene nanosheets and carbon nanotubes

The effect of the different geometrical dimensionality of two dimensional graphene nanosheets(2D GNSs) and one dimensional carbon nanotubes(1D CNTs) on the non-isothermal crystallization of an ethylene-vinyl acetate(EVA) copolymer at high loading(5 wt%) was studied.Transmission electron microscopy indicated a homogeneous dispersion of GNSs and CNTs in EVA obtained by a solution dispersion process.Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry measurements showed that 1D CNTs and 2D GNSs acted as effective nucleating agents,with a noticeably increased onset crystallization temperature of EVA.A high weight fraction of nano-fillers slowed the overall crystallization rate of composites.At the same crystallization temperature,the crystallization behavior of GNS/EVA composites was slowed compared to that of the CNT/EVA ones owing to larger nucleus barrier and activation energy of diffusion.Dynamic mechanical relaxation and rheology behavior of CNT/EVA and GNS/EVA composites demonstrated that the planar structure of the GNSs had an intensively negative effect on EVA chain mobility due to interactions between nanofillers and polymer chains,as well as spatial restriction.