Compression of nanomaterials under pressure

A simple equation of state (EOS) model is proposed to predict the high pressure compression behaviour of nanomaterials. The model is based on the fact that the product of the thermal expansion coefficient (α) and the bulk modulus (BT) (i.e., αBT) remains constant under pressure. This model is used to study the compression behaviour of a number of nanomaterials, i.e., CuO, TiO2 (anatase), α-Fe2O3, γ-Fe2O3, n-ZnO, n-CeO2, n-PbS, carbon nanotube (individual), Ni-filled multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT), Fe-filled MWCNT, AlN (hexagonal), γ-Al2O3 (67 nm), Ni (20 nm) and CdSe (rocksalt phase). The beauty of the model used in the present study is that it needs only one input parameter, the bulk modulus at zero pressure. The results obtained using the present formulation are in agreement with the existing experimental data. This shows the legitimacy of the present approach.