Elastic properties of surfaces on nanoparticles

Lattice parameter changes in nanoparticles can be used to determine the surface stress of solids. In the past a Laplace-Young relationship has been employed to interpret the lattice parameter changes as a function of the particle size. In the meantime, however, atomistic calculations revealed a purely mechanical origin of the surface stress that is consistent with elasticity theory for solid surfaces as developed by Gurtin and Murdoch. In this theory the equilibrium distance for surface atoms may differ from that in the bulk solid, and the elastic properties of the surface layer may also deviate from bulk values. We apply this Gurtin-Murdoch theory to spherical nanoparticles and reanalyze past data as well as results from recent theoretical calculations on lattice parameter changes, thereby enabling us to determine surface properties commensurate with the mechanical interpretation of surface stress. (C) 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.