Finite size effect on melting enthalpy and melting entropy of nanocrystals

Abstract

It is demonstrated that a simple model, free of any adjustable parameter, can be developed for the melting enthalpy and melting entropy of nanocrystals based on Mott's equation for the melting entropy and a model for the size-dependent melting temperature. It is shown that the enthalpy and entropy of melting for a nanocrystal decrease as its size decreases. The results are supported by available experimental results on metallic and organic nanocrystals. The model suggests that the size-dependent melting enthalpy and melting entropy for non-semiconductor nanocrystals are determined by the vibrational component of overall melting enthalpy and entropy.