Phase transformations in one-dimensional materials: applications in electronics and energy sciences

Abstract

Phase transformations at the nanoscale display interesting and important differences from those which occur in the bulk of most materials systems. These differences occur in a large variety of transformations, including melting, solid state phase transformation, chemical ordering and disordering, and chemical and electrochemical transformations. They arise from both the thermodynamic contribution of surface energy as well as the kinetic influence of small diffusion distances. These changes in the energetics and dynamics of transformation can prove important for a variety of technologies, including energy storage, energy conversion, and information technologies.