Size-dependent melting point depression of nickel nanoparticles

Abstract

We investigate the phase-transition behaviour of nickel nanoparticles (3-6 nm) via dynamic TEM. The nanoparticles were synthesized within a reverse microemulsion and then monitored via dynamic TEM simultaneously while undergoing controlled heating. The size-dependent melting point depression experimentally observed is compared with, and is in good agreement with existing thermodynamic and molecular dynamic predictions. This journal is