Modelling of the crystallization of amorphous water (ice) adsorbates (1995-2003)

In this study the sublimation rates of water vapour from thin water films (less than a hundred monolayers) on several substrates, but mainly monocrystalline platinum (111 surface), was followed. From these data we could conclude about the localization of the nucleation and the thermodynamics of the crystallization of amorphous solid water.

This study was performed in the Chemical Physics Group in Göteborg together with Patrik Löfgren (now at Manne Siegbahn institute) Dinko Chakarov, Jukka Lausmaa (now at SP) and Bengt Kasemo.

   
The figure shows modelled desorption curves assuming different homogenous thicknesses (6 monolayers [ML] - 60 monolayers) of water adsorbed on platimum. The curve shapes are the result of two competeing processes, desorption and crystallisation. More details of the modelling are given in the paper by Ahlström et al. below.

References

• P. Löfgren, P. Ahlström., D.V. Chakarov, J. Lausma and B. Kasemo: Substrate Dependent Sublimation Kinetics of Mesoscopic Ice Films, Surf. Sci. Lett., 367 (1996) L19-L25

• P.Löfgren, P. Ahlström, J. Lausma, B. Kasemo and D. Chakarov*: Crystallization Kinetics of Thin Amorphous Water Films on Surfaces, Langmuir, 19 (2003) 265-274.

• P. Ahlström, P. Löfgren, J. Lausma, B. Kasemo and D.V. Chakarov: Crystallization Kinetics of Thin Amorphous Water Films on Surfaces: Computer Modeling and Thermodynamics. Physical Chemistry - Chemical Physics, 6 (2004), 1890-1898.