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Thermodynamics of Crystal Nucleation in an External Electric Field
Author(s) -
Saban K. V.,
Thomas J.,
Varughese P. A.,
Varghese G.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
crystal research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.377
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1521-4079
pISSN - 0232-1300
DOI - 10.1002/1521-4079(200211)37:11<1188::aid-crat1188>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - nucleation , electric field , aqueous solution , chemical physics , crystal (programming language) , chemistry , radius , cluster (spacecraft) , thermodynamics , materials science , crystallography , physics , computer security , quantum mechanics , computer science , programming language
The influence of electric field on crystal nucleation in a saturated solution has been studied both theoretically and experimentally. The classical equations for nucleation have been used to determine the free energy of formation, critical radius of the cluster and the concentration of the critical nuclei. The theory shows that an externally applied electric field can modify the free energy of formation of a crystalline cluster in its aqueous solution. The impact of the field will be stronger on large molecules. Two experimental set ups have been designed to study the nucleation of crystals in saturated aqueous solutions, in the presence of electric fields. Experiments conducted using a metal coordination compound bis‐ thiourea zinc chloride show that electric fields of strength around 10 5 V/m would increase its nucleation.