Eur. Phys. J. B 66, 375-383 (2008)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2008-00429-9

Size effect on thermodynamic properties of free nanocrystals

Institute for Metal Physics, 36 Vernadsky str., Kiev, 03142, Ukraine

Corresponding author: ^a vilu@imp.kiev.ua

Received: 30 September 2008
Published online: 29 November 2008

Abstract

We demonstrate that the discrete character of the vibrational spectrum of a small crystal accounts for size dependence of its thermodynamic properties and melting temperature. Using a self-consistent statistical method [Phys. Rev. B 66, 054302 (2002)] we derive the Gibbs free energy of free nanocrystalline plates and calculate the thermodynamic parameters as functions of plate thickness for Cu.