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Related Concept Videos

Third Law of Thermodynamics02:38

Third Law of Thermodynamics

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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.
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Thermodynamic Potentials01:26

Thermodynamic Potentials

1.1K
Thermodynamic potentials are state functions that are extremely useful in analyzing a thermodynamic system. They have dimensions of energy. The four important thermodynamic potentials are internal energy, enthalpy, Helmholtz free energy, and Gibbs free energy. These thermodynamic potentials can be expressed using two of the following variables: pressure, volume, temperature, and entropy. These two variables are expressed as the rate of change of the thermodynamic potential with respect to other...
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Thermodynamic Systems01:06

Thermodynamic Systems

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A thermodynamic system is a set of objects whose thermodynamic properties are of interest. The system is considered to be embedded in its surroundings or the environment. The system and its environment can exchange heat and do work on each other through a boundary that separates them. However, the immediate surroundings of the system interact with it directly and therefore have a much stronger influence on its behavior and properties.
Consider an example of  tea boiling in a kettle. The...
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Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics01:14

Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

6.0K
Experimentally, if object A is in equilibrium with object B, and object B is in equilibrium with object C, then object A is in equilibrium with object C. That statement of transitivity is called the "zeroth law of thermodynamics." For example, a cold metal block and a hot metal block are both placed on a metal plate at room temperature. Eventually, the cold block and the plate will be in thermal equilibrium. In addition, the hot block and the plate will be in thermal equilibrium.
6.0K
Quantifying Heat02:46

Quantifying Heat

59.3K
Thermal Energy Microscopically, thermal energy is the kinetic energy associated with the random motion of atoms and molecules. Temperature is a quantitative measure of “hot” or “cold”, which depends on the amount of thermal energy. When the atoms and molecules in an object are moving or vibrating quickly, they have a higher average kinetic energy (KE) (or higher thermal energy), and the object is perceived as “hot”, or it is described as being at a...
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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.
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Updated: Oct 29, 2025

Characterization of Thermal Transport in One-dimensional Solid Materials
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Characterization of Thermal Transport in One-dimensional Solid Materials

Published on: January 26, 2014

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Surface thermodynamics at the nanoscale.

Janet A W Elliott1

  • 1Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada.

The Journal of Chemical Physics
|July 9, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Thermodynamic equilibrium equations remain valid for nanoscale fluid interfaces. These equations accurately describe phenomena down to 1-4 nm radii, with potential sub-nanometer accuracy for some.

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Area of Science:

  • Physical Chemistry
  • Nanotechnology
  • Thermodynamics

Background:

  • Fluid interfaces with nanoscale radii of curvature are crucial for applications and fundamental research.
  • The validity of key thermodynamic equilibrium equations at these small scales is an open question.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the smallest radius of curvature for which the Kelvin, Gibbs-Thomson, and Ostwald-Freundlich equations are valid.
  • To provide conceptual, molecular modeling, and experimental support for the applicability of these equations at the nanoscale.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis based on fundamental thermodynamic principles (ensemble averaging, Gibbs's treatment of interfaces).
  • Molecular modeling simulations.
  • Experimental validation.

Main Results:

  • Thermodynamic equilibrium equations show validity for interfacial radii of curvature from 1 to 4 nm.
  • Evidence suggests quantitative accuracy for the Kelvin and Gibbs-Thomson equations even at sub-nanometer scales.
  • Molecular modeling and experimental data support the applicability of all three equations.

Conclusions:

  • The Kelvin, Gibbs-Thomson, and Ostwald-Freundlich equations are valid for nanoscale fluid interfaces.
  • These fundamental thermodynamic relationships hold true to smaller scales than previously assumed.
  • Nanoscale interfacial phenomena can be accurately described by established thermodynamic principles.