Abstract:
Spherical silver nanoparticles deposited on an atomically smooth silicon surface (physical adsorption) are considered. Formulas for the interaction potential of nanoparticles with each other and with a thick substrate are derived using the Sutherland interatomic potential and the continuum approximation. The formulas allow us to calculate the most important physical parameters of the nanoparticle coating. These parameters primarily include the particle-particle coupling energies and the particle-substrate, as well as the specific work of adhesion. Within the framework of the theoretical approach used, the problem of homogeneous nucleation of a nanoparticle has been solved and the radius of the critical nucleus has been calculated. The numerical calculations are in satisfactory agreement with the available experimental data.
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