The lattice contraction of nanometre-sized Sn and Bi particles produced by an electrohydrodynamic technique

The observed lattice contraction of nanoparticles is attributed to both the surface bond that contracts with coordination number reduction of surface atoms, and the surface-to-volume ratio that increases with decreasing particle size. Surface bond contraction varies with materials and crystalline orientations while the surface-to-volume ratio depends on particle shape and size.