Nucleation: Basic Theory with Applications

Nucleation: Basic Theory with Applications, Second Edition updates the classic, highly cited introductory work by Dimo Kashchiev. It is a detailed and systematic account of the basic principles, developments, and applications of the theory of nucleation. The first two parts of the book describe in detail the two basic approaches in nucleation theory: thermodynamic and kinetic. They contain derivations of the basic and most important formulae of the theory and discuss their limitations and possibilities for improvement. The third part deals with some of the factors that can affect nucleation and is a natural continuation of the first two chapters. The last part is devoted to the application of the theory to processes of practical importance, such as melt crystallization and polymorphic transformation, crystal growth and growth of thin solid films, size distribution of droplets and crystallites in condensation and crystallization. Included is a new chapter on the formation of gas hydrates. Several appendices have also been added providing important contemporary results in nucleation theory. Nucleation: Basic Theory with Applications, Second Edition remains the go-to book for a foundational understanding of this distinct and important subdiscipline. It is written primarily for graduate and Ph.D. level students and tutors, as well as researchers or engineers across chemistry, physics, and materials science, with additional relevance to biochemists, biomedical engineers and energy and environmental scientists.

Table of Contents:
I. Thermodynamics of nucleation 1. First-order phase transitions 2. Driving force for nucleation 3. Work for cluster formation 4. Nucleus size and nucleation work 5. Nucleation theorem 6. Properties of clusters 7. Equilibrium cluster size distribution 8. Density-functional approach II. Kinetics of nucleation 9. Master equation 10. Transition frequencies 11. Nucleation rate 12. Equilibrium 13. Stationary nucleation 14. First application of the nucleation theorem 15. Non-stationary nucleation 16. Second application of the nucleation theorem 17. Nucleation at variable supersaturation III. Factors affecting nucleation 18. Seed size 19. Line energy 20. Strain energy 21. Electric field 22. Carrier-gas pressure 23. Solution pressure 24. Pre-existing clusters 25. Active centres IV. Applications 26. Overall crystallization 27. Crystal growth 28. Third application of the nucleation theorem 29. Induction time in new-phase formation 30. Fourth application of the nucleation theorem 31. Metastability limit in new-phase formation 32. Maximum number of supernuclei 33. Size distribution of supernuclei 34. Growth of thin films 35. Rupture of amphiphile bilayers 36. Formation of gas hydrates Appendices A1. Exact formula for the non-stationary nucleation rate A2. Approximate formula for the non-stationary nucleation rate A3. Initial concentration of supernuclei in previously supersaturated systems A4. The Gibbs (pre-classical) nucleation theory A5. Nucleation work in the entire range of metastability A6. Surface tension of nucleus of any size A7. Probability to form at least one supernucleus A8. Growth probability of individual cluster A9. Mean formation time of individual cluster

About the Author :
Dimo Kashchiev is a Professor at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria. He graduated in physics at Sofia University in Sofia, Bulgaria after presenting a theoretical M.Sc. thesis on nonstationary nucleation. In the same year he joined the Institute of Physical Chemistry at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. In this Institute he took the position of Research Professor in 1989. In 1975 he defended a Ph.D. thesis on the kinetic theory of nucleation, and in 1987 he obtained the degree of Doctor of Science for a thesis on the theory of nucleation and growth of new phases. In 2004 he became Corresponding Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. In 1970 he specialized for two months in the Laboratory for Crystal Growth of Prof. A. A. Chernov at the USSR Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Russia. In 1975-1976 he was a postdoctoral research fellow for one year in the Laboratory for Crystal Growth of Prof. P. Bennema at the Delft University of Technology in Delft, The Netherlands. Professor Kashchiev was Visiting Professor (by invitation) at the Delft University of Technology in Delft, The Netherlands, Hiroshima University in Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan, Reservoir Engineering Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, and Liverhulme Visiting Professor at the University of Leeds in Leeds, UK.