KINETICS OF THE FORMATION OF PARTICLES IN MICROEMULSIONS

In this paper the kinetics of the formation of nanoparticles in microe mulsions is studied by Monte Carlo computer simulation. It is observed that compartmentalization of the reactants induces a separation of th e nucleation and growth processes, which is more clearly observed when the concentration of reactants is relatively high. It is also observe d that growth by autocatalysis and by ripening overlaps at low concent rations but occurs on different time scales at high concentration. A c omparison between the results of these simulations and those from Smol uchowski's rapid-coagulation mechanism is made, showing that this theo ry is adequate to model the kinetics of these reactions.