Effect of nucleation on solidification Volume free energy as a function of temperature for solid and liquid phases, showing the effect of solid liquid interface GV Gy GV AGV r = r* 2y/r* The presence of solid/liquid interface effectively increases the Gibbs free energy of solid phases, which, in turn, decreases the melting temperature, thus leading to undercooling AT Tm r = T Gv Driving force for solidification AGV AGV = LVAT Tm AT Tm r = r* 2y/r* r =0 T