Critical analysis of the slope method for estimation of ice-water interfacial energy from ice nucleation experimental data (with reviews)

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the slope method for estimating ice-water interfacial energy from nucleation data, identifies inconsistencies in previous estimates, and proposes a corrected approach with discussion on its limitations.

Contribution

It provides a critical analysis of the slope method, identifies errors in prior work, and offers a corrected estimation procedure with an evaluation of its applicability.

Findings

Previous estimates were inconsistent due to regression errors

A corrected estimation method is proposed

Limits of the slope method are discussed

Abstract

An established procedure for the estimation of ice-water interfacial energy based on evaluation of the slope of the experimental ice nucleation rate data versus scaled temperature is critically analyzed in this work. An inconsistent estimate of the ice-water interfacial energy is found in the work of Murray et al. [Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, 12, 10380-10387]. The source of the inconsistency is identified in an inappropriate regression method used for experimental ice nucleation data fitting, a correct estimate of the ice-water interfacial energy is presented, and limits of the slope method are discussed.