title: A continuum state variable theory to model the size-dependent surface energy of nanostructures.
abstract: We propose a continuum-based state variable theory to quantify the excess surface free energy density throughout a nanostructure. The size-dependent effect exhibited by nanoplates and spherical nanoparticles i.e. the reduction of surface energy with reducing nanostructure size is well-captured by our continuum state variable theory. Our constitutive theory is also able to predict the reducing energetic difference between the surface and interior (bulk) portions of a nanostructure with decreasing nanostructure size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran. jamshidian@cc.iut.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jamshidian
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thamburaja
authors.forename: Timon
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rabczuk