Surface and interface stress effects on interfacial and nanostructured materials

Surface and interface stresses, which are intrinsic thermodynamic quantities associated with all types of solid surfaces and interfaces, are reviewed. These stresses can significantly modify the thermodynamics of small scale solids as well as result in significant variations in the structure and physical behavior of materials when the characteristic microstructural length scale is reduced to the nanometer range. Examples of these surface and interface stress effects are presented. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.