Phase stability of nanosystems : the thermodynamical approach

The phase diagram of nanoparticles is known to be a function of their size and shape. The variation with temperature depends on the surface tensions involved in the phase transitions. Moreover, when looking at the nucleation process in nanoparticles, it turns out that it is necessary to take into account the fact that the reservoir of matter is limited. This gives rise to three possibilities: phase separation, prohibition of decomposition, formation of metastable phases. It is also shown theoretically that the usual concept of phase diagram has to be reformulated when dealing with nanoparticles.