Elasticity of Prussian-Blue-Analogue Nanoparticles

We report on the elastic properties of Ni/[Fe(CN)6] Prussian‐blue‐analogue nanoparticles investigated by high‐pressure synchrotron X‐ray diffraction and nuclear inelastic scattering. For 3 nm and 115 nm particles, we have obtained bulk moduli of (30.3 ± 3.8) GPa and (24.5 ± 3.2) GPa, with Debye sound velocities of (2496 ± 46) m s–1 and (2407 ± 38) m s–1, respectively. Combining these results, Poisson's ratio, Young's modulus, the shear modulus, and the transversal/longitudinal sound velocities have been calculated for each particle size. All of these physical quantities suggest a stiffening of the lattice when the particle size decreases, which is mainly attributed to the reduction of iron ions on the particle surface.

The elastic behavior of Prussian‐blue‐analogue nanoparticles has been investigated, using high‐pressure synchrotron X‐ray diffraction and nuclear‐inelastic‐scattering techniques. We have extracted all of the elastic moduli for different sizes of Prussian‐blue‐analogue nanoparticles. This result is the basis for understanding electron–lattice coupling phase transitions at the nanoscale.