Van der Waals surface research use of a model showing the van der Waals surfaces of molecules. Related to the title concept are the ideas of a "van der Waals volume", V, and a "van der Waals surface area," abbreviated variously as A, vdWSA, VSA, and WSA. A van der Waals surface area is an abstract conception of the surface area of atoms or molecules from a mathematical estimation, either computing it from first principles or by integrating over a corresponding van der Waals volume. In simplest case, for a spherical monatomic gas, it is simply the computed surface area of a sphere of
Vapor–liquid–solid method the metal droplet). More specifically, Δµ is the difference between the chemical potential of the depositing species (Si in the above example) in the vapor and solid whisker phase. Δµ is the initial difference proceeding whisker growth (when formula_7), while formula_8 is the atomic volume of Si and formula_9 the specific free energy of the wire surface. Examination of the above equation, indeed reveals that small diameters (formula_10100 nm) exhibit small driving forces for whisker growth while large wire diameters exhibit large driving forces. Involves the removal of material from metal-containing solid targets by irradiating the surface with high-powered (~100