Molecular Dynamics Study of Anatase TiO2 Nanoparticles in Water and Vacuum Environments

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Okeke ◽  
Robert B. Hammond ◽  
S. Joseph Antony
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Surface Tension ◽  
Surface Energy ◽  
Tio2 Nanoparticles ◽  
Anatase Tio2 ◽  
Particle Sizes ◽  
Metallic Oxides ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Enhanced Properties ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Nanoparticles are nanometer sized metallic oxides which possess enhanced properties that are desirable to a wide range of industries. In this study, we investigate structural and surface properties of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles in vacuum and water environments using molecular dynamics simulations. The particle sizes ranged from 2 to 6 nm and simulations were performed at 300 K. Surface energy of the particles in vacuum was seen to be higher than that of the particles in water by about 100% for the smaller particles (i.e. 2 and 3nm) and about 60% for the larger particles (i.e. 4 to 6 nm). Surface energy of the particles in both environments, is seen to increase to a maximum (optimum value) as the particle size increases after which no further significant increase is observed. In vacuum, studies carried out at temperatures ranging from 300–2500 K showed a high dependence of surface energy on temperature. The estimated surface tension of water is seen to agree quite well with that of experiments.

scholarly journals Interface Characteristics of Neat Melts and Binary Mixtures of Polyethylenes from Atomistic Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1059
Author(s):  
Sanghun Lee ◽  
Curtis W. Frank ◽  
Do Y. Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Surface Tension ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Binary Mixtures ◽  
Surface Segregation ◽  
Surface Region ◽  
Polymer Chains ◽  
Methyl Groups ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Molecular dynamics simulations of free-standing thin films of neat melts of polyethylene (PE) chains up to C150H302 and their binary mixtures with n-C13H28 are performed employing a united atom model. We estimate the surface tension values of PE melts from the atomic virial tensor over a range of temperatures, which are in good agreement with experimental results. Compared with short n-alkane systems, there is an enhanced surface segregation of methyl chain ends in longer PE chains. Moreover, the methyl groups become more segregated in the surface region with decreasing temperature, leading to the conclusion that the surface-segregation of methyl chain ends mainly arises from the enthalpic origin attributed to the lower cohesive energy density of terminal methyl groups. In the mixtures of two different chain lengths, the shorter chains are more likely to be found in the surface region, and this molecular segregation in moderately asymmetric mixtures in the chain length (C13H28 + C44H90) is dominated by the enthalpic effect of methyl chain ends. Such molecular segregation is further enhanced and dominated by the entropic effect of conformational constraints in the surface for the highly asymmetric mixtures containing long polymer chains (C13H28 + C150H3020). The estimated surface tension values of the mixtures are consistent with the observed molecular segregation characteristics. Despite this molecular segregation, the normalized density of methyl chain ends of the longer chain is more strongly enhanced, as compared with the all-segment density of the longer chain itself, in the surface region of melt mixtures. In addition, the molecular segregation results in higher order parameter of the shorter-chain segments at the surface and deeper persistence of surface-induced segmental order into the film for the longer chains, as compared with those in neat melt films.

scholarly journals Surface energy of nanoparticles – influence of particle size and structure

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 2265-2276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Vollath ◽  
Franz Dieter Fischer ◽  
David Holec
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Particle Size ◽  
Surface Energy ◽  
Ab Initio Calculations ◽  
Ab Initio ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Classical Thermodynamics ◽  
A Minor

The surface energy, particularly for nanoparticles, is one of the most important quantities in understanding the thermodynamics of particles. Therefore, it is astonishing that there is still great uncertainty about its value. The uncertainty increases if one questions its dependence on particle size. Different approaches, such as classical thermodynamics calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and ab initio calculations, exist to predict this quantity. Generally, considerations based on classical thermodynamics lead to the prediction of decreasing values of the surface energy with decreasing particle size. This phenomenon is caused by the reduced number of next neighbors of surface atoms with decreasing particle size, a phenomenon that is partly compensated by the reduction of the binding energy between the atoms with decreasing particle size. Furthermore, this compensating effect may be expected by the formation of a disordered or quasi-liquid layer at the surface. The atomistic approach, based either on molecular dynamics simulations or ab initio calculations, generally leads to values with an opposite tendency. However, it is shown that this result is based on an insufficient definition of the particle size. A more realistic definition of the particle size is possible only by a detailed analysis of the electronic structure obtained from initio calculations. Except for minor variations caused by changes in the structure, only a minor dependence of the surface energy on the particle size is found. The main conclusion of this work is that surface energy values for the equivalent bulk materials should be used if detailed data for nanoparticles are not available.

Recognition of bio-relevant dicarboxylate anions by an azacalix[2]arene[2]triazine derivative decorated with urea moieties

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 3070-3085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel M. Santos ◽  
Igor Marques ◽  
Sílvia Carvalho ◽  
Cristina Moiteiro ◽  
Vítor Félix
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Binding Affinity ◽  
H Nmr ◽  
Triazine Derivative ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Nmr Titrations

The binding affinity of a dichlorocalix[2]arene[2]triazine based bis-urea azamacrocycle was investigated towards a wide range of bio-relevant dicarboxylate anions by a combination of 1H NMR titrations in CDCl3 and molecular dynamics simulations.

scholarly journals Surface Energy-Controlled Self-Collapse of Carbon Nanotube Bundles With Large and Reversible Volumetric Deformation

2013 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Cheng ◽  
Nicola Maria Pugno ◽  
Xinghua Shi ◽  
Bin Chen ◽  
Huajian Gao
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Carbon Nanotube ◽  
Surface Energy ◽  
Nanotube Bundles ◽  
Volumetric Deformation ◽  
Equilibrium Configurations ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Effect Of Surface

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the effect of surface energy on equilibrium configurations and self-collapse of carbon nanotube bundles. It is shown that large and reversible volumetric deformation of such bundles can be achieved by tuning the surface energy of the system through an applied electric field. The dependence of the bundle volume on surface energy, bundle radius, and nanotube radius is discussed via a dimensional analysis and determined quantitatively using the simulation results. The study demonstrates potential of carbon nanotubes for applications in nanodevices where large, reversible, and controllable volumetric deformations are desired.

Tunable Gigahertz Oscillators of Gliding Incommensurate Bilayer Graphene Sheets

2013 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Luo ◽  
Zhuhua Zhang ◽  
Boris I. Yakobson
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Surface Energy ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Friction Force ◽  
Function Theory ◽  
Bilayer Graphene ◽  
Atomistic Simulations ◽  
Graphene Sheets ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Oscillation Frequencies

Oscillators composed of incommensurate graphene sheets have been investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The oscillation frequencies can reach tens of gigahertz range and depend on the surface energy of the bilayer graphene and the oscillatory amplitude. We demonstrate the tunability of such an oscillator in terms of frequency and friction by its varying geometric parameters. Exploration of the damping mechanism by combining the autocorrelation function theory and the direct atomistic simulations reveals that the friction force is proportional to the velocity of oscillatory motion. The results should help optimize the design of graphene-based nanoelectromechanical devices.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document