New phase formation on solid surfaces and thin film condensation

The present review outlines basic results concerning the description of the formation and growth of new phase on a substrate in one-component and multi-component cases. Considerable attention is given to nucleation and further evolution of disperse particles ensemble on solid surface in metastable and unstable regions. The processes of the Ostwald ripening in size and temperature are investigated. The critical analysis of varying models of thin-film condensation from vapor, melt and solution is given. The processes of formation and progression of different instabilities, formation of non-linear density waves, coalescence and oriented growth of new phase islands are studied. Condensation kinetics of films with complex composition is under review with regard to chemical reactions between components. The technique of calculation of phase coexistence regions is reported.