Several factors contribute to structural changes at the nanoscale:
1. Surface Effects: At the nanoscale, a significant proportion of atoms reside on the surface. This high surface-to-volume ratio can lead to increased reactivity and altered electronic properties. 2. Quantum Effects: Quantum confinement can affect the electronic and optical properties of nanomaterials, especially in semiconductor nanoparticles, also known as quantum dots. 3. Thermodynamic Stability: Nanomaterials often adopt structures that minimize their free energy, which can differ from bulk structures due to the dominance of surface energy.
