Molecular simulation study of triangle-well fluids confined in slit pores

Grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations are used to study the behaviour of triangle-well (TW) fluids with variable well widths confined inside slit pores. The effect of individual factors influencing the properties of confined fluids such as fluid–fluid interactions, pore size and pore wall–fluid interactions are obtained using simulations as it is difficult to experimentally determine the same. An interesting observation of this study is that inside the narrow pore of slit height h* = 5 at the high-pressure condition of P* = 0.8, for the TW fluid with long-range attraction or for the fluid at a low temperature for even a short-range attraction, the density profiles show layering such that there is a sticking tendency of the particles at centre, while there is a depletion of particles near the wall (as the layers at the centre have higher density peak heights than near the walls).     

Field-induced layer formation in dipolar nanofilms

Using molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that the layering of confined colloidal particles with dipolar interactions, such as ferrofluids, in slablike geometries can be controlled by homogeneous external fields. For suitable surface separations, strong fields directed perpendicular to the film plane do not only align the particles but create additional layers in the system. The reverse effect occurs with an in-plane field which can induce a collapse of layers. Both effects are accompanied by pronounced particle rearrangements in lateral directions. Our simulation results are consistent with recent experiments of ferrofluids at surfaces.     

Thermodynamic properties of gold–water nanolayer mixtures using molecular dynamics

The physical behavior of a fluid in contact with solid layers is still not fully understood. The present work focuses on the study and understanding of thermodynamic and structural properties of gold–water nanolayer mixtures using molecular dynamics simulations. Two different systems are considered, where approximately 1,700 water molecules are confined between gold nanolayers with separations of 7.4 and 6.2 nm, respectively. Novelties of the present work are in the use of accurate force fields for modeling the inter- and intra-molecular interactions of the components, and providing comprehensive thermodynamic properties of the mixtures. The results are validated by examination of the pure fluid and pure solid properties. Results indicate that the thermodynamics of the system does not behave as an ideal mixture. The structure of the pure fluid is also analyzed and compared against the structure of the confined fluid in the mixture. Anisotropicity is observed in the fluid structure close to the surface of the nanolayer. Higher ordering and higher flux are detected in the fluid molecules close to the fluid–solid interface. Unusual thermodynamic behavior, anisotropicity, liquid layering, and higher interfacial fluid flux could be just some of the factors leading to the enhanced energy transport observed in mixtures involving at least one nanoscale component, such as nanofluids.     

Equilibrium partitioning of a simple fluid in a matrix-filled cylindrical pores with adsorbing walls: A grand canonical Monte Carlo study

We have studied a model of a hard sphere fluid adsorbed in a cylindrical pore filled with quenched disordered matrix of hard sphere particles using Grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. The interactions between matrix species and pore walls are assumed of a hard sphere type. However, the pore walls exert a short-range attraction upon adsorbed fluid particles. We discuss the adsorption isotherms and the density profiles of fluid particles in pores with different microporosity for several values of the pore radius. We have observed that like in homogeneous microporous media the adsorption increases with increasing porosity. However, trends of behavior of the isotherms also reflect layering of adsorbed fluid. The data obtained in this study may serve as a benchmark for the development of the theory of confined quenched-annealed systems and for computer simulation investigation of models permitting phase transitions in pores. This project has been supported in parts by DGAPA of the UNAM under research grant IN111597, by the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACyT), grant No. 25301-E.     

Layering of confined water between two graphene sheets and its liquid-liquid transition

Molecular dynamics(MD) simulations are performed to explore the layering structure and liquid–liquid transition of liquid water confined between two graphene sheets with a varied distance at different pressures. Both the size of nanoslit and pressure could cause the layering and liquid–liquid transition of the confined water. With increase of pressure and the nanoslit's size, the confined water could have a more obvious layering. In addition, the neighboring water molecules firstly form chain structure, then will transform into square structure, and finally become triangle with increase of pressure. These results throw light on layering and liquid–liquid transition of water confined between two graphene sheets.     

Thermal conductance of nanofluids: is the controversy over?

Over the last decade nanofluids (colloidal suspensions of solid nanoparticles) sparked excitement as well as controversy. In particular, a number of researches reported dramatic increases of thermal conductivity with small nanoparticle loading, while others showed moderate increases consistent with the effective medium theories on well-dispersed conductive spheres. Accordingly, the mechanism of thermal conductivity enhancement is a hotly debated topic. We present a critical analysis of the experimental data in terms of the potential mechanisms and show that, by accounting for linear particle aggregation, the well established effective medium theories for composite materials are capable of explaining the vast majority of the reported data without resorting to novel mechanisms such as Brownian motion induced nanoconvection, liquid layering at the interface, or near-field radiation. However, particle aggregation required to significantly enhance thermal conductivity, also increases fluid viscosity rendering the benefit of nanofluids to flow based cooling applications questionable.     

Rate effects on layering of a confined linear alkane

We perform drainage experiments of a linear alkane fluid (n-hexadecane) down to molecular thicknesses, and we focus on the role played by the confinement rate. We show that molecular layering is strongly influenced by the velocity at which the confining walls are approached: under high enough shear rates, the confined medium behaves as a structureless liquid of enhanced viscosity for a film thickness below approximately 10 nm. Our results also lead us to conclude that a rapidly confined film can be quenched in a metastable disordered state, which might be related with recent intriguing results on the shear properties of confined films produced at different rates [Zhu and Granick, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 096101 (2004)].     

Phase transitions and kinetic properties of gold nanoparticles confined between two-layer graphene nanosheets

The thermodynamic and kinetic behaviors of gold nanoparticles confined between two-layer graphene nanosheets (two-layer-GNSs) are examined and investigated during heating and cooling processes via molecular dynamics (MD) simulation technique. An EAM potential is applied to represent the gold–gold interactions while a Lennard–Jones (L–J) potential is used to describe the gold–GNS interactions. The MD melting temperature of 1345 K for bulk gold is close to the experimental value (1337 K), confirming that the EAM potential used to describe gold–gold interactions is reliable. On the other hand, the melting temperatures of gold clusters supported on graphite bilayer are corrected to the corresponding experimental values by adjusting the ε_Au–C value. Therefore, the subsequent results from current work are reliable. The gold nanoparticles confined within two-layer GNSs exhibit face center cubic structures, which is similar to those of free gold clusters and bulk gold. The melting points, heats of fusion, and heat capacities of the confined gold nanoparticles are predicted based on the plots of total energies against temperature. The density distribution perpendicular to GNS suggests that the freezing of confined gold nanoparticles starts from outermost layers. The confined gold clusters exhibit layering phenomenon even in liquid state. The transition of order–disorder in each layer is an essential characteristic in structure for the freezing phase transition of the confined gold clusters. Additionally, some vital kinetic data are obtained in terms of classical nucleation theory.     

纳米通道滑移流动的分子动力学模拟研究

本文采用非平衡分子动力学方法对平板纳米通道滑移流动进行了非平衡分子动力学模拟,获得了不同壁面势能和不同温度时流体的速度分布及密度分布。研究结果表明滑移速度在很大程度上决定于流体温度和壁面吸引力作用强度的大小。由于不同壁面吸引力时流体的密度分布受温度的影响规律不同,使得不同壁面吸引力时流体的滑移速度受温度影响规律也不一致。而且,流体结构受壁面流速的影响要受到壁面势能的制约。     

Capillary smectization and layering in a confined liquid crystal

Using density-functional theory, we have analyzed the phase behavior of a model liquid crystal confined between two parallel, planar surfaces (i.e., the so-called slit pore). As a result of confinement, a rich phase behavior arises. The complete liquid-crystal phase diagram of the confined fluid is mapped out as a function of wall separation and chemical potential. Strong commensuration effects in the film with respect to wall separation lead to enhanced smectic ordering, which gives capillary smectization (i.e., formation of a smectic phase in the pore), or frustrated smectic ordering, which suppresses capillary smectization. These effects also produce layering transitions. Our nonlocal density-functional-based analysis provides a unified picture of all the above phenomena.     

Field-induced realignment of a smectic nanodroplet in an external magnetic field: A numerical investigation

The field-induced realignment of a smectic-A phase is in principle a complicated process involving the director rotation via the interaction with the field and the layer rotation via the molecular interactions. Time-resolved X-ray scattering experiments have revealed major phenomena concerning the maintenance of the integrity of the smectic-A layer structure during the alignment process. In order to obtain a deeper insight into this process, we have carried out a dissipative particle dynamics study of the realignment kinetics of a nanodroplet of a smectic-A liquid crystal suspended in an isotropic fluid following a switch in the direction of an applied magnetic field. The strength of the mesogen-field interaction is small compared to the inter-molecular interactions. The reaction of the smectic configuration to the field switch was found to depend on the balance between the inter-molecular interactions stabilising the formation of the smectic layering and the interaction of the mesogens with the external field. It is found that the rotational behaviour of the smectic layers under the influence of an external magnetic field arises from a combination of stochastic translational displacements and rotational motions of the centres of mass of the mesogens in the nanodroplets. The simulations indicate that X-ray scattering and NMR experiments monitoring the orientational order are sensitive to different aspects of the realignment process.     

Force multipole moments for a spherically symmetric particle in solution

We present a general theorem for the force multipole moments of arbitrary order induced in a spherically symmetric particle immersed in a fluid whose motion satisfies the linear Navier-Stokes equation for steady incompressible viscous flow. The multipole moments are expressed in terms of the unperturbed fluid velocity field. It is shown that for a particle with a finite extension only a few terms give rise to fluid perturbations which are not confined to the interior of the particle. We give explicit results for a polymer satisfying the Debye-Bueche-Brinkman equations and for a hard sphere with mixed slip-stick boundary conditions.     

A hybrid formalism combining fluctuating hydrodynamics and generalized Langevin dynamics for the simulation of nanoparticle thermal motion in an incompressible fluid medium

A novel hybrid scheme based on Markovian fluctuating hydrodynamics of the fluid and a non-Markovian Langevin dynamics with the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck noise perturbing the translational and rotational equations of motion of the nanoparticle is employed to study the thermal motion of a nanoparticle in an incompressible Newtonian fluid medium. A direct numerical simulation adopting an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) based finite element method (FEM) is employed in simulating the thermal motion of a particle suspended in the fluid confined in a cylindrical vessel. The results for thermal equilibrium between the particle and the fluid are validated by comparing the numerically predicted temperature of the nanoparticle with that obtained from the equipartition theorem. The nature of the hydrodynamic interactions is verified by comparing the velocity autocorrelation function (VACF) and mean squared displacement (MSD) with well-known analytical results. For nanoparticle motion in an incompressible fluid, the fluctuating hydrodynamics approach resolves the hydrodynamics correctly but does not impose the correct equipartition of energy based on the nanoparticle mass because of the added mass of the displaced fluid. In contrast, the Langevin approach with an appropriate memory is able to show the correct equipartition of energy, but not the correct short- and long-time hydrodynamic correlations. Using our hybrid approach presented here, we show for the first time, that we can simultaneously satisfy the equipartition theorem and the (short- and long-time) hydrodynamic correlations. In effect, this results in a thermostat that also simultaneously preserves the true hydrodynamic correlations. The significance of this result is that our new algorithm provides a robust computational approach to explore nanoparticle motion in arbitrary geometries and flow fields, while simultaneously enabling us to study carrier adhesion mediated by biological reactions (receptor-ligand interactions) at the vessel wall at a specified finite temperature.     

Structure and phase transitions in a network-forming associating Lennard-Jones fluid in a slit-like pore: a density functional approach

A study is reported of adsorption of an associating Lennard-Jones fluid with four associative sites per molecule in a slit-like pore. The density distribution of particles in the pore and thermodynamics properties are evaluated by using a density functional method. It is found that at low temperatures the fluid exhibits a set of layering transitions, followed by capillary condensation. Transitions are localized by analysing the grand canonical potential. The density profiles of particles and the distribution of unbound and differently bonded particles demonstrate changes in the structure of the fluid in the pore along the phase coexistence. The critical temperature is lower for a confined fluid, compared with the bulk counterpart. However, an increase in the energy of association increases the critical temperature. The envelope of the capillary condensation is narrower than the bulk liquid-vapour phase diagram. The dependence of the solvation force on the energy of association and on the bulk density is discussed.     

基于伊辛模型的Fe0.5Mn0.1Al0.4 合金磁化强度和磁熵变蒙特卡洛模拟

基于伊辛模型的单自旋反转蒙特卡洛算法,考虑了粒子间的最近邻以及次近邻相互作用,研究了无序 合金的磁化强度和磁熵变。首先,强调了粒子间的次近邻相关作用对体系的磁性和热力学性质的影响,明确了次近邻相互作用系数,证实了低温合金阻挫的存在;其次,研究了在相变温度处(不同磁场下)磁化强度随外加磁场（温度）的变化情况以及磁性粒子对磁化强度的贡献,发现反铁磁性粒子Mn在低温区对 合金的相变起了主要作用,而高温区体系的相变是由铁磁性粒子Fe贡献的;最后,分析了体系在相变温度处磁熵变数值随外加磁场的变化情况以及磁熵变在不同的外磁场下随温度的变化情况,当外加磁场h=0.14时,Mn粒子在冻结温度处的平均磁化强度为零,体系处于最无序的状态,对应的磁熵变 达到了正向最大值,极值的位置对应于体系的相变温度。     

基于伊辛模型的Fe_(0.5)Mn_(0.1)Al_(0.4)合金磁化强度和磁熵变蒙特卡洛模拟

基于伊辛模型的单自旋反转蒙特卡洛算法,考虑了粒子间的最近邻以及次近邻相互作用,研究了无序Fe0.5Mn0.1Al0.4合金的磁化强度和磁熵变.首先,强调了粒子间的次近邻相关作用对体系的磁性和热力学性质的影响,明确了次近邻相互作用系数,证实了低温合金阻挫的存在;其次,研究了在相变温度处(不同磁场下)磁化强度随外加磁场(温度)的变化情况以及磁性粒子对磁化强度的贡献,发现反铁磁性粒子Mn在低温区对Fe0.5Mn0.1Al0.4合金的相变起了主要作用,而高温区体系的相变是由铁磁性粒子Fe贡献的;最后,分析了体系在相变温度处磁熵变数值随外加磁场的变化情况以及磁熵变在不同的外磁场下随温度的变化情况,当外加磁场H=0.14(a.u.)时,Mn粒子在冻结温度处的平均磁化强度为零,体系处于最无序的状态,对应的磁熵变ΔS(0.1,0.14)达到了正向最大值,极值的位置对应于体系的相变温度.     

Multi-resolution technique integrated with smoothed particle element method (SPEM) for modeling fluid-structure interaction problems with free surfaces

Free-surface flows, especially those associated with fluid-structure interactions(FSIs), pose challenging problems in numerical simulations. The authors of this work recently developed a smoothed particle element method(SPEM) to simulate FSIs. In this method, both the fluid and solid regions are initially modeled using a smoothed finite element method(S-FEM) in a Lagrangian frame, whereas the fluid regions undergoing large deformations are adaptively converted into particles and modeled with an improved smoothed particle hydrodynamics(SPH) method. This approach greatly improves computational accuracy and efficiency because of the advantages of the S-FEM in efficiently treating solid/fluid regions showing small deformations and the SPH method in effectively modeling moving interfaces. In this work, we further enhance the efficiency of the SPEM while effectively capturing local fluid information by introducing a multi-resolution technique to the SPEM and developing an effective approach to treat multi-resolution element-particle interfaces. Various numerical examples demonstrate that the multiresolution SPEM can significantly reduce the computational cost relative to the original version with a constant resolution.Moreover, the novel approach is effective in modeling various incompressible flow problems involving FSIs.     

The statistical mechanics of particles obeying discrete spatial quantum theory

The energy levels for a particle confined to a one dimensional potential well are calculated using discrete spatial QM. The partition function is constructed and approximations are made to evaluate it thus generating an expression for the energy, entropy and chemical potential of an ensemble of such particles. The concept of negative temperature is applied to the above system and applications to the early universe are also discussed.     

Thermodynamics predicts how confinement modifies the dynamics of the equilibrium hard-sphere fluid

We study how confining the equilibrium hard-sphere fluid to restrictive one- and two-dimensional channels with smooth interacting walls modifies its structure, dynamics, and entropy using molecular dynamics and transition-matrix Monte Carlo simulations. Although confinement strongly affects local structuring, the relationships between self-diffusivity, excess entropy, and average fluid density are, to an excellent approximation, independent of channel width or particle-wall interactions. Thus, thermodynamics can be used to predict how confinement impacts dynamics.     

Hydrophobic and Ionic-Interactions in Bulk and Confined Water with Implications for Collapse and Folding of Proteins

Water and water-mediated interactions determine the thermodynamics and kinetics of protein folding, protein aggregation and self-assembly in confined spaces. To obtain insights into the role of water in the context of folding problems, we describe computer simulations of a few related model systems. The dynamics of collapse of eicosane shows that upon expulsion of water the linear hydrocarbon chain adopts an ordered helical hairpin structure with 1.5 turns. The structure of dimer of eicosane molecules has two well ordered helical hairpins that are stacked perpendicular to each other. As a prelude to studying folding in confined spaces we used simulations to understand changes in hydrophobic and ionic interactions in nano-sized water droplets. Solvation of hydrophobic and charged species change drastically in nano-scale water droplets. Hydrophobic species are localized at the boundary. The tendency of ions to be at the boundary where water density is low increases as the charge density decreases. The interactions between hydrophobic, polar, and charged residue are also profoundly altered in confined spaces. Using the results of computer simulations and accounting for loss of chain entropy upon confinement we argue and then demonstrate, using simulations in explicit water, that ordered states of generic amphiphilic peptide sequences should be stabilized in cylindrical nanopores.