The Department of Chemistry invites you to its departmental seminar today at 4 p.m. in Fulmer Hall, room 201.
Dr. Alexandra Navrotsky from the University of California, Davis, will present, Surface Energy is a Thermodynamic Driver for Phase Transformation and Functionality in Nanoscale Materials.
Abstract: Many functional materials for catalysis and other applications are nanophase with particle sizes of 5-50 nm. Because different phases have significantly different surface energies, their transformations and phase equilibria will change substantially at the nanoscale . Using high temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry and water adsorption calorimetry, we have determined the energies of hydrated and anhydrous nanoparticle surfaces. Trends in these energetics and their influence on phase transformation, redox reactions, and function will be discussed.
