On phase changes in nanosystems

The phase diagram of nanoparticles is known to be a function of their size and shape. Moreover, the fact that the matter reservoir is limited in namosystems is shown here to lead to new effects. The effect of matter depletion leads to constraints on the nucleation and growth of new phases. The state diagram temperature-composition of small particles is treated within a regular solution model. In binary nanoalloys, the solubility and equilibrium compositions after the separation don't coincide. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.