Critical nuclei and crystallization in colloidal suspensions

• Published in: Philosophical magazine letters Vol. 87; no. 11; pp. 847 - 854
• Main Authors: Löwen, H., Likos, C. N., Assoud, L., Blaak, R., Van Teefelen, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis Group 01-11-2007; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Growth from solutions; Materials science; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Physics; Colloidal suspension; Shear flow; Crystallization; Heterogeneous nucleation; Density functional method; Crystal growth from solutions; Crystal nucleation; Computerized simulation; Dynamic model; Heat treatments
• ISSN: 0950-0839; 1362-3036
• DOI: 10.1080/09500830701523033

The aim of this paper is to review and to preview some selected topics of crystal nucleation in colloidal suspensions. First we discuss how the structure of critical nuclei can be calculated by computer simulations, in particular how linear shear flow affects the size and shape of the critical nuclei. Second, we preview the possibilities to access heterogeneous crystal nucleation and dynamics of a crystal by using the recently developed formalism of dynamical density functional theory. In particular, data for global crystal heating are presented.