PNNL

Abstract

Vapor to liquid multi-component nucleation is a dynamical process governed by a delicate interplay between condensation and evaporation. Since the population of the vapor phase is dominated by monomers at reasonable supersaturations, the formation of clusters is governed by monomer association and dissociation reactions. Since no potential energy barrier exists the formation of a cluster is impeded by a free energy of activation that is entropic in nature. Dynamical Nucleation Theory provides a framework in which equilibrium evaporation rate constants can be calculated and the corresponding condensation rate constants determined from detailed balance. The nucleation rate can then be obtained by solving the kinetic equations. The rate constants governing the multi-step kinetics of multi-component nucleation including sensitivity analysis and the influence of possible contaminants will be presented and discussed.