Direct visualisation of homogeneous and heterogeneous crystallisation in an ensemble of confined domains of poly(ethylene oxide)

Abstract.We present a study of homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation in polymer crystallisation. In bulk samples the crystallization is typically dominated by nucleation from defects (heterogeneous nucleation), and consequently studies must rely on sample preparation to minimize this effect. We present a study of nucleation within discrete droplets of poly(ethylene oxide) that are formed by the dewetting of a thin film on an unfavourable …