Mechanism for nucleation and growth of electrochemical palladium deposition on an Au(111) electrode

The initial kinetics of electrochemical deposition of palladium on an Au(111) electrode in 0.1 M H₂SO₄ solution containing K₂PdCl₄ have been investigated quantitatively by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and potentiostatic current transient measurements. A cathodic current maximum was observed in the initial stage of Pd deposition process in 0.1 mM K₂PdCl₄ solution. The analysis shows that the deposition of palladium in this solution proceeds by an instantaneous nucleation and two-dimensional (2D) growth mode. When the concentration of K₂PdCl₄ became higher, a potential-dependent cathodic current ‘plateau’ after the current maximum was observed. Simple nucleation-growth models cannot fit the transients in the region of the ‘current plateau’. The present current transient results were discussed in comparison with the results obtained by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM).     

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.     

镍钨硼合金沉积机理及镀层微晶尺寸

应用循环伏安、恒电位阶跃和Ｘ射线衍射（ＸＲＤ）等研究了Ｎｉ－Ｗ－Ｂ合金电沉积特点和镀层微晶尺寸。结果表明,在以柠檬酸铵为络合剂的溶液中,Ｎｉ－Ｗ－Ｂ合金沉积层较Ｎｉ－Ｗ合金有较低的电化学活性。电位阶跃ｉ￣ｔ曲线分析表明,在玻碳电极上Ｎｉ－Ｗ－Ｂ合金电结晶过程遵循扩散控制瞬时成核三维成长模式,且随过电位的增加,电极表面晶核数增多。ＸＲＤ测试结果表明,随沉积电流密度提高,合金镀层微晶尺寸逐渐增大,说明     

High-field magnetic phase diagram of CsCoCl3 revised

A fine structure of high-field magnetization curves of CsCoCl₃ and related compounds is discussed. It is shown that a precursor of a high-field phase transition originates from nucleation of an intermediate high-field ferrimagnetic (IFM) phase. Since the IFM state is degenerate its growth starting from few nucleation centers gives rise to domain walls formation. Their creep also makes a contribution to the magnetization dynamics similar to slow relaxation in Ca₃Co₂O₆. An experimental verification of the model is proposed.     

Complex pole approach in thermodynamic description of fluid mixtures with small number of molecules

The subject matter of classical thermodynamics is the asymptotic behavior of equilibrium systems in thermodynamic limit, for small molecular systems, when transition to thermodynamic limit is impossible, the extension of thermodynamics is required. This work studies novel approach for the evaluation of partition functions of small systems by complex pole analysis. Several cases for molecular systems in small cavities are studied numerically. In particular size-dependent additional pressure for small systems is evaluated analytically and numerically. Similar approach was developed earlier in nuclear physics for finite systems of nucleons. The obtained results correspond to published experimental data and molecular dynamics simulations.     

Nucleation of Droplets in a Binary Mixture

We revisit the theory of condensation of a droplet in a vapour with the aim of finding the effect that the surface tension has on the phase diagram of a binary mixture. For that purpose we consider condensation under volume control and rederive the Gibbs phase rule. The Gibbs phase rule is equivalent to the common tangent construction for two free enthalpies corresponding to different pressures: in this case, the pressure in the vapour and the pressure in the droplet. Explicit results are calculated for a droplet mixed from incompressible liquids and for a vapour that is an ideal gas mixture. It turns out that in a certain range of volumes the equilibrium state of droplet and vapour has a higher free energy than the vapour alone. At the lower bound of that range of volumes a stable droplet of finite size will nucleate and consequently the vapour pressure will drop. The usual condensation line in a (p, X ₁)-phase diagram without surface tension is thus replaced by two lines: One for the incipient condensation and one for its completion; both lie above the condensation line without surface tension.     

Cristallisation par onde acoustique : le cas de l'héliumCrystallization by acoustic waves: the case of helium

We establish a theoretical model to explain the nucleation of a crystal of helium by an acoustic over-pressure. We explain the interfacial laws for this ultra-fast cristallization, close to the sound speed. Assuming spherical symmetry and taking into account the experimental data, we recover the dynamics of the growth and melting during an over-pressure impulse. To cite this article: M. Ben Amar et al., C. R. Mecanique 331 (2003).     

Sonocrystallization and sonofragmentation

The application of ultrasound to crystallization (i.e., sonocrystallization) can dramatically affect the properties of the crystalline products. Sonocrystallization induces rapid nucleation that generally yields smaller crystals of a more narrow size distribution compared to quiescent crystallizations. The mechanism by which ultrasound induces nucleation remains unclear although reports show the potential contributions of shockwaves and increases in heterogeneous nucleation. In addition, the fragmentation of molecular crystals during ultrasonic irradiation is an emerging aspect of sonocrystallization and nucleation. Decoupling experiments were performed to confirm that interactions between shockwaves and crystals are the main contributors to crystal breakage. In this review, we build upon previous studies and emphasize the effects of ultrasound on the crystallization of organic molecules. Recent work on the applications of sonocrystallized materials in pharmaceutics and materials science are also discussed.     

Dew nucleation and growth

Dew is the condensation of water vapor into liquid droplets on a substrate. It is characterized by an initial heterogeneous nucleation on a substrate and a further growth of droplets. The presence of a substrate that geometrically constrains the growth is the origin of the peculiarities and richness of the phenomenon. A key point is the drop interaction through drop fusion or coalescence, which leads to scaling in the growth and gives universality to the process. As a matter of fact, growth dynamics are only dependent on substrate and drop dimensionality. Coalescence events lead to temporal and spatio-temporal fluctuations in the substrate coverage, drop configuration, etc., which give rise to a very peculiar dynamics. When the substrate is a liquid or a liquid crystal, the drop pattern can exhibit special spatial order, such as crystalline, hexatic phases and fractal contours. Condensation on a solid substrate near its melting point can make the drop jump.The applications of monitoring dew formation are manifold. Examples can be found in medicine (sterilization process), agriculture (green houses) and hydrology (production of drinkable water). To cite this article: D. Beysens, C. R. Physique 7 (2006).