On the orientation of N2 and CO2 molecules adsorbed in slit pore models with oxidised graphitic surface

Abstract

We report grand canonical Monte Carlo studies of nitrogen (77 K) and carbon dioxide (253 K) adsorbed in graphitic slit pores with surface oxygen functionalities. The analysis is focused on the molecular orientation within the adsorption layers and the influence of surface heterogeneity on molecular density distributions. The oxygen-containing surface functionalities act like additional adsorption sites along the graphitic basal plane that interacts also electrostatically with the fluid. Our simulations reveal that the molecular orientation of both adsorbate particles changes greatly upon increasing surface heterogeneity, while the effect of the pore size on the adsorption behaviour is also discussed. The detailed microscopic description of the adsorbed layer on oxygen modified carbon surfaces can be used to highlight thermodynamic features of gas adsorption on real surfaces such as layering transitions and surface area calculations.