Nanoparticle Near-Surface Electric Field

Abstract

Theoretical studies show that surface reconstruction in some crystals involves splitting the surface atomic layer into two—upper and lower—sublayers consisting of atoms with only positive or only negative effective electric charges, respectively. In a macroscopic crystal with an almost infinite surface, the electric field induced by such a surface-dipole is practically totally concentrated between the sublayers. However, when the material is powdered and its particles are of sufficiently small sizes, an electric field of a significant magnitude can be induced outside the sublayers as well. We have calculated the distribution of the electric field and its potential induced at the surface of a disc-shaped particle. The suggested novel nanoscale effect explains the increase in physical reactivity of nanopowders with decreasing particle sizes.

Mean Electric Field of Dielectric Nanoparticle

“…Taking into account the relationship between the surface densities of the electric charge and the electric dipole moment in the crystal surface and subsequent atomic sublayers charged positively or negatively, we state that the expressions obtained here for the mean electric field potential and strength of a nanoparticle agrees well with that obtained earlier in [1] for a disk-like nanoparticle on its axis.…”

“…A new nanoscale effect of formation an electric field near the surface of dielectric nanoparticles was proposed in [1]. It is based on the surface reconstruction that occurs in some crystals, which involves the splitting of the surface atomic layer into two parallel sublayers consisting of atoms with only positive or only negative effective electrical charges, respectively.…”

Biofabrication of zinc oxide nanoparticles, characterization and cytotoxicity against pediatric leukemia cell lines

“…Nano science has proved that very unique and different properties like chemical reactivity, electrical conductivity, active surface area, optical and hardness will get achieved by reducing the size to nanometer (nm) [1,2]. One of the most important and different properties of nanoparticles (NPs) are because of their antimicrobial metal NPs like titanium, zinc, silver and copper [3,4].…”