Predicting large area surface reconstructions using molecular dynamics methods.

In this paper we discuss a new simulation method that can be used to predict preferred surface reconstructions of model systems by Molecular Dynamics (MD). The method overcomes the limitations imposed by periodic boundary conditions for finite boundary MD simulations which can normally prevent reconstructions. By simulating only the reconstructed surface layer and by removing the periodic boundary effects and the free energy barriers to reconstruction, the method allows surfaces to reconstruct to a preferred structure.

Influence of substrate morphology on the growth of gold nanoparticles.

We have simulated the vacuum deposition and subsequent growth of gold nanoparticles on various substrates in order to explore the effects that substrate morphology has on the resultant morphology of gold nanoparticles. The substrates and conditions explored included, the three low index faces, namely, (111), (100), and (110) for both fcc and bcc crystalline substrate structures, including various substrate lattice constants and temperatures. Firstly, we cataloged the major nanoparticle morphologies produced overall.

On the formation mechanism of the "pancake" decahedron gold nanoparticle.

We have studied the thermodynamic and kinetic growth mechanisms behind the formation of the "pancake" decahedron (D(h)) gold nanoparticle using computer simulation. Free energy calculations showed that the full pancake morphology is thermodynamically unstable across all the nanoparticle size ranges studied. However, from observations of growth simulations we discovered that a kinetic transport mechanism plays a significant contributing role in the formation process through a transfer of adatoms from the top and bottom (111) D(h) faces to the side (100) faces.

On the relative stabilities of gold nanoparticles.

We calculate and compare the relative free energies of ideal/pristine gold nanoparticles for morphologies produced previously in vapor synthesis computer simulations. The results in conjunction with previous work provide a unique and direct quantitative comparison between ideal thermodynamics and kinetics in the synthesis of gold nanoparticles for an identical system. The ideal/pristine free energies suggest that the I(h) morphology was the most stable structure up to the 147(I(h)) followed by the TO(h) for all the remaining nanoparticle sizes.

Computational modeling of nanorod growth.

In this computational study, we used molecular dynamics and the embedded atom method to successfully reproduce the growth of gold nanorod morphologies from starting spherical seeds in the presence of model surfactants. The surfactant model was developed through extensive systematic attempts aimed at inducing nonisotropic nanoparticle growth in strictly isotropic computational growth environments. The aim of this study was to identify key properties of the surfactants which were most important for the successful anisotropic growth of nanorods.

On morphologies of gold nanoparticles grown from molecular dynamics simulation.

The authors use a newly fitted gold embedded atom method potential to simulate the initial nucleation, coalescence, and kinetic growth process of vapor synthesized gold nanoparticles. Overall the population statistics obtained in this work seemed to mirror closely recent experimental HREM observations by Koga and Sugawara [Surf. Sci.

On fitting a gold embedded atom method potential using the force matching method.

We fit a new gold embedded atom method (EAM) potential using an improved force matching methodology which included fitting to high-temperature solid lattice constants and liquid densities. The new potential shows a good overall improvement in agreement to the experimental lattice constants, elastic constants, stacking fault energy, radial distribution function, and fcc/hcp/bcc lattice energy differences over previous potentials by Foiles, Baskes, and Daw (FBD) [Phys. Rev.

On the computational calculation of surface free energies for the disordered semihexagonal reconstructed Au(100) surface.

Previously we developed a general method for calculating the free energy of any surface constrained to a distinct surface excess number/density. In this paper we show how to combine a range of such surfaces, whose free energies have been calculated, to produce an ad hoc semigrand canonical ensemble of surfaces from which ensemble surface properties can be calculated, including the ensemble surface free energy. We construct such an ensemble for the disordered Au(100) semihexagonal reconstructed surface using a Glue model potential at 1000 K and calculate the ensemble surface free energy to be 0.

Application of the constrained fluid lambda-integration path to the calculation of high temperature Au(110) surface free energies.

Recently a method termed constrained fluid lambda-integration was proposed for calculating the free energy difference between bulk solid and liquid reference states via the construction of a reversible thermodynamic integration path; coupling the two states in question. The present work shows how the application of the constrained fluid lambda-integration concept to solid/liquid slab simulation cells makes possible a generally applicable computer simulation methodology for calculating the free energy of any surface and/or surface defect structure, including surfaces requiring variations in surface atom or density number, such as the (1 x 5) Au(100) or (1 x 2) missing row Au(110) reconstructed surfaces or excess adatom/vacancy/step populated surfaces. We evaluate the methodology by calculating the free energy of various disordered high temperature Au(110) embedded atom method surfaces constrained to differing excess surface atom numbers [including those corresponding to the (1 x 2) missing row reconstructed surface] and obtained the interesting result that at 1000 K (as distinct from lower temperatures) the free energy difference between these surfaces is reduced to zero; a result which is consistent with an expected order-disorder phase transition for the Au(110) surface at such high temperatures.

Further application of the constrained fluid lambda-integration method.

Previously we proposed a three stage, and recently a single stage nonphysical lambda-integration path for thermodynamically coupling bulk solid and liquid states directly. In this work we further apply these paths, specifically the newer single stage path, to the calculation of the complete truncated and shifted Lennard-Jones (R(cutoff)=2.5sigma) and aluminum glue potential melting lines, and the zero pressure melting point for a commonly used gold glue potential.

"Exact" surface free energies of iron surfaces using a modified embedded atom method potential and lambda integration.

Previously a new universal lambda-integration path and associated methodology was developed for the calculation of "exact" surface and interfacial free energies of solids. Such a method is in principle applicable to any intermolecular potential function, including those based on ab initio methods, but in previous work the method was only tested using a relatively simple embedded atom method iron potential. In this present work we apply the new methodology to the more sophisticated and more accurate modified embedded atom method (MEAM) iron potential, where application of other free- energy methods would be extremely difficult due to the complex many-body nature of the potential.

Constrained fluid lambda-integration: constructing a reversible thermodynamic path between the solid and liquid state.

A novel lambda-integration path is proposed for calculating the Gibbs free energy difference between any arbitrary solid and liquid state needed for the location of melting lines. This technique involves reversibly forcing a liquid state to a solid state across the phase transition along a nonphysical path, thermodynamically coupling the two states directly. The process eliminates the need for coupling to idealized reference states as is presently performed and hence simplifies the location of phase transitions for computer simulation systems.