Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A thermodynamic approach to mechanical stability of nanosized particles

  • Published:
Central European Journal of Physics

Abstract

Thermodynamic stability conditions for nanoparticles (resulting from non-negativity of the second variation of the free energy) have been analyzed for two cases: (i) a nonvolatile nanosized particle with the size-dependent surface tension; (ii) the limiting case of larger objects when the surface tension takes its macroscopic value. It has been shown that the mechanical stability of a nanoparticle, i.e. its stability relative to the volume fluctuations, is defined by an interplay between the excess (“surface”) free energy and the volumetric elastic energy. According to the results obtained, noble gas clusters and metal nanoparticles satisfy the mechanical stability condition. At the same time, water nanodrops, as well as nanoparticles presented by nonpolar organic molecules, correspond to the stability limit. Among the investigated systems, the stability condition is not carried out for n-Pentane clusters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J. Neumann: Theory of self-reproducing automata, University of Illinois Press, Urbana and London, 1966.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. R.P. Feynman: “There's Plenty Room at the Bottom”, Engineering Science, Vol. 23, (1960), pp. 22–32.

    Google Scholar 

  3. A.V. Malakhovskii: “Ejection of cluster ions as a result of electron impact ionization of argon”, Chemical Physics, Vol. 270, (2001), pp. 471–481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. V.M. Samsonov, N.Yu. Sdobnyakov, A.N. Bazulev: “On thermodynamic stability conditions for nanosized particles”, Surface Science, (2003), (in print).

  5. A.I. Rusanov: Phasengleichgewichte und Grenzflaechen erscheinungen. Academie-Verlag, Berlin, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  6. V.M. Samsonov: “Conditions for applicability of a thermodynamic description of highly disperse and microheterogeneous systems”, Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry, Vol. 76, (2002), pp. 1863–1867.

    Google Scholar 

  7. A.N. Bazulev, V.M. Samsonov, N.Yu. Sdobnyakov: “Thermodynamic perturbation theory calculations of interpose tension in small objects”, Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry, Vol. 76, (2002), pp. 1872–1876.

    Google Scholar 

  8. V.M. Samsonov, A.N. Bazulev, N.Yu. Sdobnyakov: “On applicability of the Gibbs thermodynamic to nanoparticles”, Central European Journal of Physics (2003), (in print).

  9. J.W. Gibbs: The Collected Works. V. 1, Longmans, Green and Co., New York-London-Toronto, 1928.

    Google Scholar 

  10. M.D. Croucher; “A semi-empirical expression for the surface tension of polymer melts”, Macromolecular Chemistry Rapid Communication, Vol. 2, (1981), pp. 199–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. E.N. Vitol: “Opredelenie zavisimosty poverkhnostnogo natyazheniya matallov ot krivizny poverkhnosti razdela faz (The definition of the surface tension curvature dependence for the metals)”, Kolloidnii Zhurnal, Vol. 54, (1992), pp. 21–22.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chemist's Handbook. V.1, Khimiya, Moscow-Leningrad, 1971, pp. 558–563, pp. 1006–1023.

  13. Physical Quantities. Handbook, Energoatomizdat, Moscow, 1991, pp. 1232.

  14. Ch. Kittel: Introduction to Solid State Physics, John Willey and Sons Inc., New York-London-Sydney-Toronto, 1978.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  15. D.J. Wales and R.S. Berry: “Freezing, malting, spinodals, and clusters”, The Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 92, (1990), pp. 4473–4482.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. M. Schmidt, R. Kusche, B. von Issendorff, H. Haberland: “Irregular variations in the melting point of size-selected atomic clusters”, Nature, Vol. 393, (1998), pp. 238–240.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. B.O. Hall, B. Flueli, R. Monot, J.-P. Borel: “Multiply twinned structures in unsupported ultrafine silver particles observed by electron diffraction”, Physical Review B, Vol. 43, (1991), pp. 3906–3917.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. V.M. Samsonov, S.D. Murav'ev, A.N. Bazulev: “Surface characteristics, structure, and stability of nanosized particles”, Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry, Vol. 74 (2000), pp. 1791–1795.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kh.B. Khokonov: “The measurement methods of the surface energy and tension of metals and alloys in the solid state”, Surface phenomena in melts and solid phases, (1974), pp. 190–261.

  20. T.L. Hill: Statistical mechanics, Mr Craw-Hill Book Company, New York-Toronto-London, 1956.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Theoretical Physics Department, Tver State University, 170024 Sadovii side-street, 35, Tver, Russia

    Vladimir M. Samsonov & Nikolay Yu. Sdobnyakov

Authors
  1. Vladimir M. Samsonov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nikolay Yu. Sdobnyakov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Samsonov, V.M., Sdobnyakov, N.Y. A thermodynamic approach to mechanical stability of nanosized particles. centr.eur.j.phys. 1, 344–354 (2003). https://doi.org/10.2478/BF02476301

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/BF02476301

Keywords

PACS (2000)

Search

Navigation