Surface energy and particle size

In a more detailed analysis, it must be asked whether surface energies themselves are 

SEsmall/l Ole [ smair Amall bsniall small C A small] C (, small Vb,small Vc,small) 

SEjiano/l ole — [ajiano - ano hnano, nano] bnano (V,nano Vb nano) 

It is clear that a mole of structure that is largely disrupted by proximity to the surface will have a higher energy than a mole of bulk structure, so 

On further consideration of the above construct, it is clear that the value of the surface energy (essentially a macroscopic thermodynamic concept) is dependent upon how the surface, near-surface, and bulk regions are defined (i.e., how the particle is subdivided). For this reason, it is perhaps useful to set aside the surface excess terminology for a moment and focus on the key issues surface energy is probably often size dependent, and surface sites contribute excess energy to a material. 

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