Surface and interface stress effects in thin films

Surface and interface stresses in solids are defined and their role in the thermodynamics of solids is presented. A discussion concerning the physical meaning of these quantities is given, along with a review of selected theoretical calculations and experimental measurements. It is shown that for a solid phase with one or more of its dimensions smaller than about 10 nm, the surface and interface stresses can be principal factors in determining the equilibrium structure and behavior of the solid. In particular, the effects of surface and interface stresses on thin films are reviered along with the related topic of surface reconstructions in metals.