Surface energy and shrinkage of a nanocavity

An analytical model was developed for the size dependence of surface energy of a nanocavity from the perspective of thermodynamics and continuum medium mechanics. Three components of the liquidlike matrix, vaporlike cavity, and inner surface skin of the cavity were considered for the cavity-matrix structure, and contribution from chemical and structural effects to the surface energy was discussed. It was found that the surface energy increases with the inverse of cavity size and that the cavity shrinks in size, differing from what is usually expected. It was suggested that the surface skin be stronger than the matrix because of the bond order deficiency effect. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.