Grain size-dependent diffusion activation energy in nanomaterials

We report a unified model, free of any adjustable parameter, for size-dependence of intrinsic diffusion activation energy of elements in crystals. It is found that as the size of the nanocrystals decreases, the diffusion activation energy of atoms decreases and the corresponding diffusion coefficient strongly increases due to the Arrhenius relationship between them, which leads to evident diffusion at the room temperature. The model prediction is in agreement with the experimental diffusion results of N into bcc Fe and Ag into Au nanoparticles.