Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
In this study we construct two new equations to describe the effective diffusivity in nanomaterials where diffusion proceeds via both the grains and the grain boundaries in comparable amounts. We analyze two very simple 2D grain configurations by Monte Carlo methods to test the validity of the equations. In addition, we also test the Hart and the recently extended Maxwell-Garnett equations. It is shown that one of the two new equations provides a very good description of diffusion in the grain models postulated.