Supercooling of surface modified liquids

We present a simple model of surface modified first-order phase transitions, based on the density-functional theory of freezing. Motivated by recent experiments of surface induced freezing, we show how supercooling may in fact be inhibited below a certain temperature which depends on the lattice mismatch between the monolayer and the nucleated crystal, as well as on the macroscopic strength of the surface treatment. We also apply the model to systems which tend to surface-freeze above the melting point, and correlate their surface-freezing and supercooling temperatures. {} 1996 The American Physical Society.