Homogeneous Crystallization of Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Confined to Droplets: The Dependence of the Crystal Nucleation Rate on Length Scale and Temperature

We present a study of homogeneous nucleation in polymer crystallization. Crystal nucleation is observed within discrete droplets of poly(ethylene oxide) that are formed by the dewetting of a thin film. The samples provide an ensemble of impurity-free droplets, with length scales that can easily be measured. Droplet crystallization is found in two distinct temperature regimes corresponding to homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation. Here we …