Temperature-gradient effects on heterogeneous ice nucleation from supercooled water

Liping Wang,Fuxin Wang,Weiliang Kong,Hong Liu

doi:10.1063/1.5133459

Liping Wang, Fuxin Wang + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5133459

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Journal: AIP Advances	Publication Date: Dec 1, 2019
Citations: 7	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Abstract

Investigating the nucleation and freezing behavior of supercooled water under temperature gradients is of significance for theoretical research and practical application. This paper focuses on the freezing temperature of bulk supercooled water in a rectangular container for which the temperature at two sides can be controlled to present a temperature difference. The experimental results show that the nucleation temperature under temperature differences will be lower than that under isothermal conditions. In addition, an increase in the temperature difference is shown to linearly increase the supercooling needed for ice nucleation. The temperature gradient is capable of suppressing heterogeneous ice nucleation. Based on the classical nucleation theory, the free energy barrier for heterogeneous nucleation is attributed to the main factor to affect the nucleation rate. By comparing theoretical evaluations with experimental results, correction on the free energy barrier was conducted to predict the nucleation rate in the temperature gradient. Our experimental research and theoretical correction reveal the nucleation behavior of supercooled water under nonequilibrium conditions.

Highlights

In the case of temperature-gradient effects on nucleation, Reguera and Rubi have analyzed homogeneous nucleation in inhomogeneous media.28 Their analytical results suggested that the nucleation process can be strongly affected by the presence of a large temperature gradient
This paper focuses on the freezing temperature of bulk supercooled water in a rectangular container for which the temperature at two sides can be controlled to present a temperature difference
The experimental results show that the nucleation temperature under temperature differences will be lower than that under isothermal conditions

Summary

Introduction

In the case of temperature-gradient effects on nucleation, Reguera and Rubi have analyzed homogeneous nucleation in inhomogeneous media.28 Their analytical results suggested that the nucleation process can be strongly affected by the presence of a large temperature gradient. Investigating the nucleation and freezing behavior of supercooled water under temperature gradients is of significance for theoretical research and practical application.

Results

Conclusion