Melting of micro/nanoparticles in an alloy melt with the Soret effect

The melting of micro/nanoparticles considering the Soret effect in an alloy melt is studied in terms of the asymptotic method. The results reveal that the positive Soret coefficient weakens the dynamic disequilibrium near the interface, and then enhances the melting temperature of the particle and decreases the melting speed of the particle. The negative Soret coefficient strengthens the dynamic disequilibrium near the interface, and then reduces the melting temperature of the particle and increases the melting speed of the particle. The positive Soret coefficient weakens the accumulation of the solute flux near the interface and enhances the solute concentration. The negative Soret coefficient strengthens the accumulation of the solute flux near the interface and reduces the solute concentration. The size dependence of the melting temperature considering the Soret coefficient is quantitatively consistent with the experimental data, especially for the micro/nanoparticles with a radius smaller than 5 nm.