Critical analysis of the slope method for estimation of ice-water interfacial energy from ice nucleation experimental data (with reviews)

An established procedure for the estimation of ice-water interfacial energy based on evaluation of the slope of the experimental ice nucleation rate data versus scaled temperature is critically analyzed in this work. An inconsistent estimate of the ice-water interfacial energy is found in the work of Murray et al. [Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, 12, 10380-10387]. The source of the inconsistency is identified in an inappropriate regression method used for experimental ice nucleation data fitting, a correct estimate of the ice-water interfacial energy is presented, and limits of the slope method are discussed.