Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

First study on the effects of interfacial curvature and additive interfacial density on heterogeneous nucleation. Ice crystallization in oil-in-water emulsions and nanoemulsions with added 1-heptacosanol

Jamieson, M.J.; Nicholson, C.E.; Cooper, S.J.

Authors

M.J. Jamieson

C.E. Nicholson



Abstract

Extended classical nucleation theory predicts that heterogeneous crystallization on a convex substrate will be less efficient than for the planar case. In this article, we present the first systematic study of the effects of interfacial curvature on crystallization. Decane-in-water nanoemulsions and emulsions have been prepared with droplet sizes of similar to 67 nm, similar to 280 nm, and similar to 1.9 mu m, which are stabilized by the passive nonionic surfactant, Brij 30. Ice nucleation is induced at the curved decane-water interface by 1-heptacosanol, which can cause ice formation at temperatures as high as -4.5 to -7 degrees C at the corresponding planar interface. Differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy data show that the similar to 280 nm and similar to 1.9 mu m droplet systems induce ice formation at temperatures up to -8 +/- 2 to -9 +/- 2 degrees C, for 1-heptacosanol interfacial concentrations of similar to 2-8% and similar to 4-11%, respectively. In comparison, ice nucleation only occurs at temperatures up to -13 +/- degrees C in the similar to 67 nm droplets, which have higher interfacial 1-heptacosanol concentrations of between similar to 9 and 21%. The extended classical nucleation theory is insufficient to explain the extent of the reduced nucleating ability in the similar to 67 nm nanoemulsions, and so we propose that the nucleating ability of 1-heptacosanol is also reduced as the interfacial curvature increases.

Citation

Jamieson, M., Nicholson, C., & Cooper, S. (2005). First study on the effects of interfacial curvature and additive interfacial density on heterogeneous nucleation. Ice crystallization in oil-in-water emulsions and nanoemulsions with added 1-heptacosanol. Crystal Growth and Design, 5(2), 451-459. https://doi.org/10.1021/cg0498094

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date 2005-12
Deposit Date Apr 26, 2007
Journal Crystal Growth and Design
Print ISSN 1528-7483
Electronic ISSN 1528-7505
Publisher American Chemical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 5
Issue 2
Pages 451-459
DOI https://doi.org/10.1021/cg0498094