Dear RG Experts
What does size effect exactly means and how to use this terminology correctly?
Does it is used only to effects seen when the size is reduced? I mean to say only in case of decreasing trend only or can it be used in opposite trend also i.e., in increasing trend?
(although in both the cases the explaination/phenomenon being same)
For eg. say, when we start from bulk materials and go down to nanomaterials, we say nanoparticles exhibit size effect. Viewing in opposite direction, i.e., from nanomaterials to bulk materials, is it wrong to use size effect while explaining the properties?
Please specify the use of this terminology?
Your kind suggestions and views are highly appreciated and most welcome.
Thank you all
Hi Elangbam,
In my limited knowledge, there are various physical phenomena concerning the size of the object. And people use the terminology as “they want“.
Therefore, you can use this as you want.
But, this is my personal opinion. I also interesting in other opinions.
Thank you so much Dr Yoshiki for sharing your opinion.
With best regards
No. The size effect has a very precise use: when a physical behaviour depends of its size. For instance, the in three dimensions of its volume as the magnetic nanoparticles do because they depend strongly of the anisotropy energy which is function of their volume. In general the surface has a density of particles very different than the bulk and this means that there are a different number of bonds among atoms, etc..For example, we have shown that the Ag at small dimensions could be even ferromagnetic when as a bulk it is diamagnetic.
Dear all,
For an example, just google "fracture mechanics size effect", you can find another example.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0013794487902049
Not only in magnetism, various physical phenomena change the properties depending on the scale. In fact, I have seen many of "size effect". Since automobile industry is an application in real world, we encounter various physical phenomena.
However, as Daniel commented, a size effect in a certain science/technology field may have a certain usage. When you use this terminology, you'd better to check the usage following the preceding documents. I revise my previous answer. Thanks Daniel.
Thank you so much Dr Daniel for the detail explanation with examples.
So, size effect refers to only those remarkable and unusual effects which are resulted due to large surface to volume ratio such as superparamagnetism. All other general effects such as enhancement in properties/ characteristics like peak intensities of XRD, FTIR, PL spectra and other properties such as saturation magnetization, electrical resistivities etc does not comes under size effects. Although, size affects a lot on the above mentioned properties/characteristics, the term size effects cannot be used.
The literal meaning of the term size effect differs actually from its scientific/technical meaning.
With best regards
Thank you so much Dr Yoshiki for joining this discussion and sharing the article .
With best regards
The term "Size effect" is usually used to explain the changes of properties of materials with size (Dr. Daniel has already mentioned this).
Size effects on the material’s properties:
- Mechanical properties-adhesion, capillary forces
- Chemical properties-reactivity, catalysis
- Thermal properties-melting point
- Electrical properties-tunneling current
- Optical properties-absorption, scattering
- Magnetic properties-superparamagnetic effect
Read the given literature:
http://www.tut.ee/public/m/Mehaanikateaduskond/Instituudid/Materjalitehnika_instituut/MTX9100/Lecture6_SizeEffects.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/250330523_Size_Effect_and_Shape_Stability_of_Nanoparticles
Best wishes
Thank you so much Dr Asit for the valuable contribution and the relevant literatures.
With best regards
Thank you so much Dr Botan for the kind response and valuable answers.
With best regards
Chitra
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