Thermal physics of nanostructured materials: Thermodynamic (top-down) and quantum (bottom-up) issues

Abstract

Thermodynamic description of nanodimension systems with nanoparticles in the frame of the traditional Gibbs theory of interfaces is offered. Attention has been paid to thermodynamic modelling of nanosystems and scheming of its kinetic phase diagrams where some discrepancy remains dealing with expression of the surface contribution. The consistent expressions for molar Gibbs energy and chemical potentials of components of spherical nanoparticles are put forward along with the correct forms of equilibrium conditions assuming the impact of surface extension, involvement of surface tension or upgrade of curvature. Moreover, applicability of the shape factor α is used in the expressions involving surface-to-volume ratio of non-spherical particles. Gradual balls assemble complying with the cubic structure is dispatched as a model for the bottoming balls up. It well illustrates the surface and volume phenomena in nanostructures. The limiting cases of self-similarity, periodicity and self-organization are also discussed.