Research Papers

Want to learn more about thermodynamics? Here are some research papers you can read on many interesting topics in thermo.

 

Reflections on the Motive Powers of Fire

This paper is Sadi Carnot's initial paper on the Carnot cycle from 1824! A very important concept in the topic of reversibility.

 

Essai de Statique Chimique

This paper, written by C.L. Berthollet, was the first to introduce the concept of a reversible reaction. Until the publication of this paper, chemical reactions were thought to occur only in one direction. This paper is the original from 1803 so it is written in French.

 

A Manual of the Steam Engine and Other Prime Movers

This is one of the first textbooks of thermodynamics, written by William John Marqourn Rankine in 1859. In it, he states one of the first definitions of thermodynamics.

 

On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances

This paper was written by J. Willard Gibbs in 1878. It introduces the concept of Gibbs free energy (called by a different name).