Doping nanoparticles

Abstract

It is shown that the equilibrium solubility of impurities in disperse particles with dimensions on the order of several dozen ångströms can exceed the equilibrium solubility in the same massive material by up to two orders of magnitude. Simultaneous allowance of the variation of both surface and volume energy upon the dissolution of impurities leads to stabilization of the disperse system. Experiments confirming this effect are discussed and the possible practical inferences are considered.