Thermodynamic Properties of Potassium Oxide (K₂O) Nanoparticles by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Potassium oxide (K₂O) is a reagent for testing the presence of other compounds in chemical reactions. It is also used in compounding cement and in glass making. However properties of K₂O in nanoscale are still unclear. In this work, thermodynamic properties of spherical K₂O nanoparticles have been investigated. Size dependent cohesive energy, melting point and glass transition temperature have been computed for different sizes of K₂O nanoparticles by molecular dynamics simulations. Thermal expansion coefficients of nanoparticles at zero pressure and various temperatures have been also calculated. Melting point depression for K₂O nanoparticles was determined. The significant change in cohesive energy was obtained for particles smaller than 5.4 nm. The presented model is successful in understanding the size-dependent thermodynamics of spherical K₂O nanoparticles. Theoretical investigations of the thermal properties of K₂O nanoparticles have not been presented previously.