Localized orientational order chaperons the nucleation of Rotator phases in hard polyhedral particles

Abstract

The nucleation kinetics of the rotator phase in hard cuboctahedra, truncated octahedra, and rhombic dodecahedra is simulated via a combination of Forward Flux Sampling and Umbrella Sampling. For comparable degree of supersaturation, the polyhedra are found to have significantly lower free-energy barriers and faster nucleation rates than hard spheres. This difference primarily stems from localized orientational ordering, which steers polyhedral particles to pack more efficiently. Orientational order hence fosters here the growth of orientationally disordered nuclei.