Abstract:
It is a noted fact that the composition
of a mixed solid phase grown at non-equilibrium can deviate from the equilibrium
composition due to the very low diffusion rate in the solid phase. We present
an analytical model for the determination of the kinetic composition of
a binary solid phase that is growing from a solution at a given supersaturation,
giving rise to kinetic phase diagrams. The model is derived for growth
at rough surfaces but is expected to apply also to growth at non-roughened
surfaces. Kinetic phase diagrams for different undercooling and excess
energy parameters are presented and discussed. If the interaction parameters,
describing the excess free energy, are large the model equations can have
two stable solutions, which implies the simultaneous growth of two solid
phases with different compositions. This kinetic phase separation depends
on the undercooling and the composition dependence of the attachment probabilities.