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A thermodynamic description of the melting process in nanometer-sized particles

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Abstract

The melting behavior of nanometer-sized Sn particles with radius in the range between 5 and 50 nm is analyzed within the conceptual framework of classical thermodynamics. Experimentally observed size-dependent melting points and latent heats of fusion are exploited to point out the occurrence of pre-melting phenomena at the particle surface. The size-dependent values of the thermodynamic state functions associated with the solid–liquid interface are estimated together with the thickness of the interface layer.

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Acknowledgements

Prof. L. H. Allen is acknowledged for having authorized the use of experimental data collected by his group at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Financial support has been given by the University of Cagliari.

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  1. Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica e Materiali, Università di Cagliari, piazza d’Armi, Cagliari, 09123, Italy

    Francesco Delogu

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  1. Francesco Delogu
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Correspondence to Francesco Delogu.

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Delogu, F. A thermodynamic description of the melting process in nanometer-sized particles. J Mater Sci 43, 2611–2617 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-008-2470-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-008-2470-z

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