Solid-liquid interfacial premelting

TL;DR

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to observe premelting at solid-liquid interfaces, revealing a logarithmic growth of interfacial liquid film and its impact on diffusion and interfacial phenomena.

Contribution

First direct simulation evidence of premelting transition at a chemically sharp solid-liquid interface, confirming theoretical predictions and exploring its effects on interfacial kinetics.

Findings

Liquid interfacial film width grows logarithmically near melting point

Premelting causes a sharp change in interfacial diffusion behavior

Implications for particle coalescence and shape equilibration processes

Abstract

We report the observation of a premelting transition at chemically sharp solid-liquid interfaces using molecular-dynamics simulations. The transition is observed in the solid-Al/liquid-Pb system and involves the formation of a liquid interfacial film of Al with a width that grows logarithmically as the bulk melting temperature is approached from below, consistent with current theories of premelting. The premelting behavior leads to a sharp change in the temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient in the interfacial region, and could have important consequences for phenomena such as particle coalescence and shape equilibration, which are governed by interfacial kinetic processes.