Nucleation

Dimo Kashchiev is a Professor at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria. He graduated in physics at Sofia University in Sofia, Bulgaria after presenting a theoretical M.Sc. thesis on nonstationary nucleation. In the same year he joined the Institute of Physical Chemistry at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. In this Institute he took the position of Research Professor in 1989. In 1975 he defended a Ph.D. thesis on the kinetic theory of nucleation, and in 1987 he obtained the degree of Doctor of Science for a thesis on the theory of nucleation and growth of new phases. In 2004 he became Corresponding Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. In 1970 he specialized for two months in the Laboratory for Crystal Growth of Prof. A. A. Chernov at the USSR Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Russia. In 1975-1976 he was a postdoctoral research fellow for one year in the Laboratory for Crystal Growth of Prof. P. Bennema at the Delft University of Technology in Delft, The Netherlands. Professor Kashchiev was Visiting Professor (by invitation) at the Delft University of Technology in Delft, The Netherlands, Hiroshima University in Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan, Reservoir Engineering Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, and Liverhulme Visiting Professor at the University of Leeds in Leeds, UK.

Thermodynamics of Nucleation: First-Order Phase Transitions; Driving Force for Nucleation; Work for Cluster Formation; Nucleus Size and Nucleation Work; Nucleation Theorem; Properties of Clusters; Equilibrium Cluster Size Distribution; Density-Functional Approach. Kinetics of Nucleation: Master Equation; Transition Frequencies; Nucleation Rate; Equilibrium; Stationary Nucleation; First Application of the Nucleation Theorem; Nonstationary Nucleation; Second Application of the Nucleation Theorem; Nucleation at Variable Supersaturation. Factors affecting Nucleation: Seed size; Line Energy; Strain Energy; Electric Field; Carrier-Gas Pressure; Solution Pressure; Preexisting Clusters; Active Centres. Applications: Overall Crystallization; Crystal Growth; Third Application of the Nucleation Theorem; Induction Time; Fourth Application of the Nucleation Theorem; Metastabiltiy Limit; Maximum Number of Supernuclei; Size Distribution of Supernuclei; Growth of Thin Films; Lifetime of Amphiphile Bilayers. Appendices; References; Author index; Subject Index.