Phase diagrams of nano-alloys: influence of size and morphology

The size dependence of the phase diagram of nano-alloys with a tendency to phase separate is investigated. As the critical temperature may depend on both the size and the morphology of the nanoparticles, we consider nano-wires with different cross-sections and also nano-tubes with different circumferences. The variation of the critical temperature with the length of all these nanoparticles is systematically studied using Monte Carlo simulations based on an Ising model. A non-monotonic variation of the critical temperature is observed as a function of the length. The maximal value of the critical temperature is reached when the length and the circumference of the nanoparticles are similar. The phase diagrams obtained within two thermodynamic ensembles (the canonical ensemble and the pseudo grand canonical ensemble) are compared and discussed in terms of the behaviour of a single particle or an assembly of nanoparticles in mutual equilibrium with each other. (authors)