A mechanism of nucleation during thermal decomposition of solids

International audienceA microscopic model based on the appearance, diffusion, and aggregation of point defects allows to calculate the time of appearance of the first nucleus on a surface during a reaction between a solid and a gas. Calculated distributions of these times of appearance of the first nucleus are qualitatively compared to experimental ones, previously determined. The appearance of the point defects seems to be the most influential step on the time of appearance of the first nucleus. Moreover the comparison between experimental and calculated distributions allows to conclude that the frequency of appearance of the defects is higher on the edges than on the faces of the single crystal