We study the phase-separation kinetics of a binary (AB) mixture confined in a thin film of thickness D with a temperature gradient. Starting from a Kawasaki-exchange kinetic Ising model, we use a master-equation approach to systematically derive an extension of the Cahn-Hilliard model for this system. We study the effect of temperature gradients perpendicular to the film with "neutral" (no preference for either A or B) surfaces. We highlight the rich phenomenology and pattern dynamics which arises from the interplay of phase separation and the temperature gradient. © Copyright EPLA, 2013.

Prabhat K. Jaiswal

Department of Physics

IIT Jodhpur

S. Puri

K. Binder

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Journal	EPL
ISSN	02955075