Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Entropy02:39

Entropy

32.5K
Salt particles that have dissolved in water never spontaneously come back together in solution to reform solid particles. Moreover, a gas that has expanded in a vacuum remains dispersed and never spontaneously reassembles. The unidirectional nature of these phenomena is the result of a thermodynamic state function called entropy (S). Entropy is the measure of the extent to which the energy is dispersed throughout a system, or in other words, it is proportional to the degree of disorder of a...
32.5K
Entropy01:18

Entropy

3.1K
The first law of thermodynamics is quantitatively formulated via an equation relating the internal energy of a system, the heat exchanged by it, and the work done on it. A quantitative formulation of the second law of thermodynamics leads to defining a state function, the entropy.
When an ideal gas expands isothermally, the disorder in the gas increases. From the molecular perspective, the gas molecules have more volume to move around in.
Consider an infinitesimal step in the expansion, which...
3.1K
Third Law of Thermodynamics02:38

Third Law of Thermodynamics

20.4K
A pure, perfectly crystalline solid possessing no kinetic energy (that is, at a temperature of absolute zero, 0 K) may be described by a single microstate, as its purity, perfect crystallinity,and complete lack of motion means there is but one possible location for each identical atom or molecule comprising the crystal (W = 1). According to the Boltzmann equation, the entropy of this system is zero.
20.4K
Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics01:20

Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics

3.5K
The second law of thermodynamics can be stated quantitatively using the concept of entropy. Entropy is the measure of disorder of the system.
The relation  between entropy and disorder can be illustrated with the example of the phase change of ice to water. In ice, the molecules are located at specific sites giving a solid state, whereas, in a liquid form, these molecules are much freer to move. The molecular arrangement has therefore become more randomized. Although the change in average...
3.5K
Second Law of Thermodynamics02:49

Second Law of Thermodynamics

25.2K
In the quest to identify a property that may reliably predict the spontaneity of a process, a promising candidate has been identified: entropy. Processes that involve an increase in entropy of the system (ΔS > 0) are very often spontaneous; however, examples to the contrary are plentiful. By expanding consideration of entropy changes to include the surroundings, a significant conclusion regarding the relation between this property and spontaneity may be reached. In thermodynamic models, the...
25.2K
Second Law of Thermodynamics00:53

Second Law of Thermodynamics

65.8K
The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that entropy, or the amount of disorder in a system, increases each time energy is transferred or transformed. Each energy transfer results in a certain amount of energy that is lost—usually in the form of heat—that increases the disorder of the surroundings. This can also be demonstrated in a classic food web. Herbivores harvest chemical energy from plants and release heat and carbon dioxide into the environment. Carnivores harvest the...
65.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Probing Ultrafast Excitonic Coherences and Charge-Generation Pathways in Quantum-Dot Photocells via Photocurrent-Detected Two-Dimensional Electronic Spectroscopy.

ACS nano·2026
Same author

Quantum Dot Thermal Machines-A Guide to Engineering.

Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Electron Phase Detection in Single Molecules by Interferometry.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2025
Same author

Thermoelectric Limitations of Graphene Nanodevices at Ultrahigh Current Densities.

ACS nano·2024
Same author

Quantum interference enhances the performance of single-molecule transistors.

Nature nanotechnology·2024
Same author

Connections to the Electrodes Control the Transport Mechanism in Single-Molecule Transistors.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 3, 2025

Scalable Quantum Integrated Circuits on Superconducting Two-Dimensional Electron Gas Platform
05:39

Scalable Quantum Integrated Circuits on Superconducting Two-Dimensional Electron Gas Platform

Published on: August 2, 2019

9.9K

A Thermodynamic Approach to Measuring Entropy in a Few-Electron Nanodevice.

Eugenia Pyurbeeva1, Jan A Mol1

  • 1School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK.

Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 2, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Measuring entropy in nanoscale systems is challenging. This study introduces a thermodynamic framework to unify existing methods and probe new regimes in few-electron nanodevices.

Keywords:
Coulomb blockadeentropy measurementnanoscale systemquantum transportthermodynamic relations

More Related Videos

Atomically Traceable Nanostructure Fabrication
12:35

Atomically Traceable Nanostructure Fabrication

Published on: July 17, 2015

8.9K
Writing and Low-Temperature Characterization of Oxide Nanostructures
06:43

Writing and Low-Temperature Characterization of Oxide Nanostructures

Published on: July 18, 2014

10.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 3, 2025

Scalable Quantum Integrated Circuits on Superconducting Two-Dimensional Electron Gas Platform
05:39

Scalable Quantum Integrated Circuits on Superconducting Two-Dimensional Electron Gas Platform

Published on: August 2, 2019

9.9K
Atomically Traceable Nanostructure Fabrication
12:35

Atomically Traceable Nanostructure Fabrication

Published on: July 17, 2015

8.9K
Writing and Low-Temperature Characterization of Oxide Nanostructures
06:43

Writing and Low-Temperature Characterization of Oxide Nanostructures

Published on: July 18, 2014

10.2K

Area of Science:

  • Thermodynamics
  • Nanoscale Physics
  • Quantum Information

Background:

  • Entropy is crucial for understanding microscopic degrees of freedom.
  • Standard entropy measurement via heat capacity is difficult for nanoscale systems.
  • New methods using charge balance and transport properties have emerged for nanodevices.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a self-consistent thermodynamic framework for few-electron nanodevices.
  • To address misconceptions in applying thermodynamics to small systems with significant particle number fluctuations.
  • To unify existing entropy measurement techniques and explore intermediate regimes.

Main Methods:

  • Derivation of a novel thermodynamic relation based on Maxwell relations for small systems.
  • Application of the framework to systems with complex microscopic dynamics and multiple excited states.
  • Microscopic considerations to validate the framework's applicability.

Main Results:

  • A unified relation encompassing both charge balance and transport-based entropy measurements.
  • The framework allows for probing the intermediate regime between existing methods.
  • Validation of the framework for systems with complex energy landscapes and degeneracies.

Conclusions:

  • The developed framework provides a robust method for entropy measurement in few-electron nanodevices.
  • It resolves challenges associated with nanoscale thermodynamics and particle number fluctuations.
  • Offers a pathway for more accurate entropy characterization in quantum systems.