Figure 3: Qualitative free energy diagram of the assembly pathway.
From: Rapid fabrication of hierarchically structured supramolecular nanocomposite thin films in one minute
The as-cast film has the largest value of free energy Gas cast because of the interfacial energy associated with defects. The energy difference between the as-cast and ordered states ΔG is the thermodynamic driving force of the assembly process. G reduces as a function of fs as the solvent mediates energy cost of defects. ΔE corresponds to the activation energy barrier for the supramolecular nanocomposite to order.
