Thermodynamic superheating and relevant interface stability of low-dimensional metallic crystals

In terms of a model for size-dependent melting and the Lindemann criterion, a model to interpret thermodynamic superheating of all low-dimensional metallic crystals is developed. A superheating is present when the metallic nanocrystals have coherent or semi-coherent interfaces with the surrounding matrix and when the atomic diameter of the nanocrystals is larger than that of the matrix. The superheating temperatures of the nanocrystals are lower than the stability temperatures of the coherent interfaces. The model prediction shows good agreement with the experimental evidence.