On the basis of the assumption that on a homogeneous surface area a probability 0 < P( E, c) <: 1 for nucleation can be defined which increases with the monomer concentration c and is also dependent on the potential E, it is shown both by a schematrc computer simulation and by an approximate analytical derivation that necessarily the number of nuclei has to attain a limiting value for long times. without having to resort to the existence of active sites. It follows that this limiting number arises from a concurrence between the probability of nucleation and the processes that accompany the growth of a nucleus and that decrease supersaturation.
LIST OF SYMBOLSR(L u> nucleation rate per active site, s-' monomer concentration at a radial distance r from the centre of a lone nucleus at time t, mol cmm3 monomer bulk concentration, mol cmP3 diffusion coefficient, cm2 s-l growth constant of exclusion zone, cm s-' number density of nuclei at time t, cm-2 number density of active sites, cmP2 nucleation rate probability as a function of potential E and concentration c, cme2 s-' radius of a nucleus at time t, cm radius of exclusion zone at time t belonging to a lone nucleus, which is born at time u, cm l To whom correspondence should be addressed 0022-0728/88/$03.50 0 1988 Elsevier Sequoia S.A.