An Enthalpic Analysis on the Aggregation of Colloidal Particles Studied by Microcalorimetry

Statistical thermodynamics in reversible clustering of gold nanoparticles. A first step towards nanocluster heat engines

“…With regard to enthalpy (H), for stabilized nanoparticles to aggregate upon salt addition to a liquid solution, the total process should be endothermic (DH t > 0) and comprise three main heat contributions, DH t ¼ DH þ DH d þ DH AE . Either nanoparticle or salt dilutions are also endothermic (DH d ; DH AE > 0), the latter providing with the dominant term, thence aggregation should be exothermic (DH < 0) [39]. This was also confirmed by the transient equilibrium mapping analysis presented in the experimental section, returning positive dispersion enthalpy and entropy, i.e.…”