Abstract
The well-known dependence of the surface energy on the cluster on its volume V as V to the power 2/3 is suitable only for clusters containing more than 10 000 particles. A new theory has been developed for the case of smaller clusters based on the postulate that the surface energy is proportional to the number of particles in the layer next to the outer layer of the cluster. The general relationships have been derived for the dependence of the surface (outer) atoms (molecules) in the compact nanocluster on their overall number in it. It results in novel equations for a critical nucleus in the thermodynamic theory of the phase transitions.
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Gamburg, Y.D. The Magic and Spherical Metallic Nanoclusters and Their Properties as Nuclei at Phase Transitions, in Particular, at Electrocrystallization. Surf. Engin. Appl.Electrochem. 58, 594–597 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068375523010064
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068375523010064