Solid clusters above the bulk melting point
The fact that the melting points of nanoparticles are always lower than those of the corresponding bulk material is a paradigm supported by extensive experimental data for a large number of systems and by numerous calculations. Here we demonstrate that tin cluster ions with 10-30 atoms remain solid at approximately 50 K above the melting point of bulk tin. This behavior is possibly related to the fact that the structure of the clusters is completely different from that of the bulk element.
Shvartsburg
AA
Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
Jarrold
MF