Superheating thermodynamics of nanocrystals based on the interface effect

Abstract

In terms of consideration on binding energy of interface atoms and Mott's expression for vibrational melting entropy, a model to interpret size-dependent melting enthalpy and size-dependent melting point of low-dimensional nanocrystals embedded in a matrix is developed. It is found that as the size of the nanocrystals decreases, both of the melting enthalpy and the melting temperature increases under the condition that the nanocrystals have coherent or semi-coherent interface with the matrix. The model prediction is in good agreement with experimental data and computer simulation results. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.