Nanoscale Effects on Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria in Oxide Systems

Because different solid materials (phases) have different surface energies, equilibria among them will be significantly affected by particle size. This Minireview summarizes experimental (calorimetric) data for the surface energies of oxides and discusses shifts in the stability of polymorphs, the thermodynamics of hydration, and oxidation-reduction reactions in nanoscale oxide systems.