Heni M, Lowen H. Surface freezing on patterned substrates.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2000;
85:3668-3671. [PMID:
11030977 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.85.3668]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2000] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
We show that the structure of a substrate pattern drastically influences the nature of surface freezing. By using phenomenological theory and computer simulations of a hard sphere fluid next to a substrate formed by a periodic array of fixed spheres, we find that a pattern which is commensurate with the bulk crystal induces complete surface freezing through a cascade of layering transitions. A rhombic pattern, on the other hand, either generates a crystalline sheet which is unstable as a bulk phase or prohibits surface freezing completely.
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