Effect of Patch Area and Interaction Length on Clusters and Structures Formed by One-Patch Particles in Thin Systems.

Abstract

Assuming that the interaction between particles is given by the Kern–Frenkel potential, Monte Carlo simulations are performed to study the clusters and structures formed by one-patch particles in a thin space between two parallel walls. In isothermal–isochoric systems with a short interaction length, tetrahedral tetramers, octahedral hexamers, and pentagonal dipyramidal heptamers are created with increasing patch area. In isothermal–isobaric systems, the double layers of a triangular lattice, which is the (111) face of the face-centered cubic (fcc) lattice, form when the pressure is high. For a long interaction length, a different type of cluster, trigonal prismatic hexamers, is created. The structures in the double layers also changed as follows: a simple hexagonal lattice or square lattice, which is the (100) face of the fcc structure, is created in isothermal–isobaric systems.