Structure, Chemistry, and Properties of Mineral Nanoparticles

Nanoparticle properties can show marked departures from their bulk analog materials, including large differences in chemical reactivity, molecular and electronic structure, and mechanical behavior. The greatest changes are expected at the smallest sizes, e.g. 10 nanometers; and less, where surface effects are likely to dominate bonding, shape, and energy considerations. The precise chemistry at nanoparticle interfaces can have a profound effect on structure, phase transformations, strain and reactivity. Certain phases may exist only as nanoparticles, requiring transformations larger sizes. In in chemistry, stoichiometry, and structure with evolution to general, mineral nanoparticles have been little studied.