Hybrid Reverse Molecular Dynamics Simulation as New Approach to Determination of Carbon Nanostructure of Carbon Blacks

Abstract

Various carbon materials have been fabricated for use as catalyst supports, carriers, adsorbents, and electrodes as well as in other advanced applications. The performances of carbon materials in such applications can be improved by adjusting their physical properties, especially their nanostructures. The determination of the carbon nanostructure is thus considerably important. Reverse Monte Carlo and hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulations, which are used to analyze the diffraction patterns of carbon materials, can be used to obtain nanostructure images. Here, we describe a new approach to carbon nanostructure investigation, namely, hybrid reverse molecular dynamics (HRMD) simulation. This approach has the advantage that all of the carbon atoms move toward probable carbon structures by force fields to adapt a simulated diffraction pattern to an experimental one, in contrast to the random movements in reverse Monte Carlo and hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulations. HRMD simulation also prevents the formation of inappropriate structures.