Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo Simulation Research Articles

Influence of force field used in carbon nanostructure reconstruction on simulated phenol adsorption isotherms in aqueous medium

Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations have been conducted to investigate the interaction between phenol and a commercial activated carbon cloth KIP1200 in aqueous solution. The nanostructure of KIP1200 has been extracted using Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo (HRMC) simulations based on experimental measurements of XRD-based structure factor, and shows the presence of pore spaces inaccessible to both phenol and nitrogen. The impact of empirical force fields (EDIP and Erhart-Albe) on the structural parameters and adsorption capacity, as well as pore accessibility is investigated via molecular simulations and materials informatics employing lattice and Voronoi decomposition algorithms. While the Erhart-Albe force field leads to more amorphous structures and inaccessible pores, the EDIP force field creates more lamellar structures with sharp edges and narrow pore width. The molecular state of adsorbed phenol in these structures is markedly different, with the narrower pore spaces of the EDIP-based structure providing stronger interaction between phenol molecules and carbon structure than for water. The calculated X-ray intensities and adsorption isotherms for the simulation-based structure are in good agreement with corresponding experimental results. The simulated solvation state of phenol has been verified by experiments, and demonstrates the existence of inter-layer spaces inaccessible to phenol for both force fields.

Structural and thermodynamic properties for the BaMn(Fe=V)F7 Fluoride glass system by using the Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo simulation

The Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo (HRMC) simulation has been widely used as a very useful method for displaying the pair partial distribution functions (PDFs) g(r) eliminating as soon as possible the artificial satellite peaks appear by the RMC simulation. The HRMC is an extension of the RMC algorithm, which introduces an energy penalty term (potential) in the acceptance criteria.The glass retains the structure presented by the liquid at the glass transition temperature Tg, and the thermodynamic properties are influenced by these structural modifications. We are interested in this study to apply the structural parameters g(r), obtained from HRMC simulation, to determine some structural and thermodynamic properties for the BaMn(Fe=V)F7 Fluoride glass.The calculated structural properties such as the running coordination number n(r) were in good agreement with coordination constraint. We suggest also that the structural parameters g(r) is a good tool to determine the thermodynamic properties as the energy of the system.

On the orientational correlations in the supercooled chloride lithium aqueous solution using the hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulation

Employing the Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo (HRMC) simulation, we compute, using the obtained three-dimensional configurations, the orientational correlations of water molecules in the supercooled 9.26 molal LiCl aqueous solution. This study aims to add relevant structural properties to those obtained in our latest studies and further support our findings. The Li/Cl pair ions hydration shells and the water molecules distribution studied using the Radial Pair Distribution Functions (RPDF), ([Formula: see text]) and ([Formula: see text]) are further described using the Orientational Pair Correlation Functions (OPCF), [Formula: see text] which describes the probability of a water molecule oriented by the Euler angles [Formula: see text], being located at the position [Formula: see text], with respect to another water molecule oriented [Formula: see text] placed at the origin. The high dimensionality of the orientational correlation functions has not presented a calculation disability, as known with several simulations, in the face of the efficiency of the HRMC and the water–water orientational correlation functions showed the dominant impact of ions on the water molecular dipole orientations within the hydration shells and in the hydrogen bonded molecules network.

Configurational evidence for antiferromagnetic interaction in disordered magnetic ionic liquids by X-ray scattering-aided hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulation

Magnetic ionic liquids (MIL) are a new type of ionic liquids that show paramagnetic response to magnetic fields. Here, we elucidate a plausible 3D liquid structure of the 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrachloroferate (Emim[FeCl4]) and 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrachloroferate (Bmim[FeCl4]) MILs by X-ray scattering-aided hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulations. Bmim[FeCl4] showed anomalously continuous structural changes over a wide temperature range (90–523 K) without crystallization, while Emim[FeCl4] displayed a melting point at 291 K with no glass transition.Conventional electron radial distribution function (ERDF) analysis provides misleading information about the structures of these MILs due to the mutual cancelation of the partial anion-anion and anion-cation ERDFs. Subsequent hybrid reverse Monte Carlo (HRMC) analysis revealed the precise coordination structures of both ionic liquids, and the alternating periodic arrangement of the anions and cations was visualized based on the HRMC simulation results. The results clearly revealed that the 1st coordination structure of the FeCl4 anion around the Bmim cation was widespread compared to that of the Emim cation, resulting in the absence of crystallization. In addition, we obtained new insights into the antiferromagnetic interaction between the FeCl4− ions of Bmim[FeCl4] even in the absence of the crystallization at low temperatures. Our results shed new light on the development of MILs not only for practical applications but also for the advancing the basic science of pure liquids with a high magnetic response.

Solvation structure of the Chloride Lithium-ion pair at the supercooled state from Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo simulation combined to neutron scattering

A detailed analysis of the hydration shells of the 9.26 molal LiCl aqueous solution at the intermediate metastable thermodynamic state between the liquid (300 k) and the glass (120 k). The structural modelling of the LiCl6H2O at the supercooled-liquid state is conducted employing the Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo (HRMC) simulation in combination with the neutron scattering data. The obtained pair distribution functions and the running coordination number are used as interpretive tools to examine the repartition of the water molecules around ions of lithium and chloride. HRMC represents a powerful tool to get provide detailed information on the hydration shell structures through the obtained pair correlations.

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

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.

Vitrification, crystallization, and atomic structure of deformed and quenched Ni60Nb40 metallic glass

A Ni60Nb40 alloy was vitrified from fcc Ni and bcc Nb by cold rolling and by rapid solidification of an alloy ingot. The Ni60Nb40 that was vitrified by rolling has a lower crystallization onset temperature with single crystallization reaction compared to the two-stage crystallization at higher temperature for quenched Ni60Nb40. Fluctuation electron microscopy and hybrid reverse Monte Carlo modeling show that the as-rolled Ni60Nb40 contains fewer icosahedral-like Voronoi clusters and more crystal-like and bcc-like Voronoi clusters, which are inherited from the bcc Nb. The crystal-like and bcc-like medium range order clusters may be the structural origin for lower crystallization temperature in the as-rolled glass. It is demonstrated that hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulations incorporating fluctuation microscopy and an empirical interatomic potential are insensitive to the starting structure.

Adsorption and Separation of N2/CH4/CO2/SO2 Gases in Disordered Carbons Obtained Using Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo Simulations

Adsorption and separation of gases in porous carbon models are studied using molecular simulations. We use three porous carbon models (named as cs400, cs1000, and cs1000a) developed in a previous work obtained from Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo simulations. The density of carbon atoms as well as the presence of heteroatoms (hydrogen and oxygen) differ between the three carbon models. Gas adsorption in the carbon models were studied using Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations. We found that cs1000 sample (with highest carbon density) shows the largest separation ability for N2/CH4, CH4/CO2, and N2/CO2 systems. cs1000a sample (with larger pore width up to 1.2 nm) shows higher selectivity for SO2/N2 and SO2/CO2 systems. We also studied the influence of surface chemistry (presence of carbonyl and carboxyl groups) in the porous carbon models on adsorption and separation of gases. We found that the presence of carbonyl and carboxyl groups has a significant effect on the adsorption and separation of polar gas mol...

Characterizing Structural Complexity in Disordered Carbons: From the Slit Pore to Atomistic Models.

The reliable characterization of nanoporous carbons is critical to the design and optimization of their numerous applications; however, the vast majority of carbons in industrial use are highly disordered, with complex structures whose understanding has long challenged researchers. The idealized slit pore model represents the most commonly used approximation to a carbon nanopore; nevertheless, it has been only partially successful in predicting adsorption isotherms and fails significantly in predicting transport properties because of its inability to capture structural disorder and its effect on fluid accessibility. Atomistic modeling of the structure has much potential for overcoming this limitation, and among such approaches, hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulation has emerged as the most attractive. This method reconstructs the structure of a carbon based on the fitting of its experimentally measured pair distribution function and appropriate properties such as porosity while minimizing the energy. The method is shown to be best implemented using a multistage strategy, with the first stage used to attain a deep minimum of the energy and subsequent stages to refine the structure based on the fitting of specific properties. Methods to determine the accessibility of gases based on the atomistic structure are outlined, and it is shown that energy barriers are very sensitive to small differences in the sizes of constrictions and pore entries. The ability to accurately predict macroscopic transport coefficients of adsorbates in nanoporous carbons appears to be the greatest limitation of such models. Overcoming this will require the fitting of properties more sensitive to long-range disorder than the currently used pair distribution and the use of a suitable multiscaling strategy, which is suggested as a future direction for advancing atomistic models. The inclusion of heteroatoms in the structure is also an important area requiring further attention, particularly in the development of computationally efficient force fields incorporating their interactions.

Effect of structural anisotropy and pore-network accessibility on fluid transport in nanoporous Ti3SiC2 carbide-derived carbon

We develop an atomistic model of disordered Ti3SiC2 carbide-derived carbon (Ti3SiC2-DC) through hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulation, and validate it against experimental adsorption data of Ar and CO2 using grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation. While supporting the atomistic model, the GCMC simulations reveal inadequate accessibility of narrow micropores, leading to small deviation between experimental and simulated isotherms at low pressure. It is found that the Ti3SiC2-DC structure is lamellar and highly anisotropic, with a percolating path in only one direction, which is parallel to the lamellae, leading to anisotropic diffusion. The energy barriers for diffusion in this anisotropic structure are found to be smaller, and the diffusion coefficient larger, than in the more disordered but isotropic SiC-derived carbon, despite the larger pore volume of the latter. These findings, based on molecular dynamics simulations are confirmed by analysis of the free energy landscape, showing larger free energy barriers for SiC-derived carbon. Our findings suggest that diffusion in isotropic carbon structures is hindered by higher energy barriers, arising from greater short-range disorder, in comparison to highly anisotropic structures, consistent with recent literature observations of larger pore wall-mediated scattering in isotropic structures.

Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo and electron phase contrast image simulations of amorphous silicon with and without paracrystals

Atomic networks of as-implanted and relaxed amorphous silicon solids were simulated using a Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo algorithm constrained by high-resolution electron diffraction data. No significant structural distinction was observed between the two forms of amorphous silicon. A nanometer-sized crystallite was inserted into the as-implanted structure, to model medium-range order due to paracrystals, and the atomic network was energetically relaxed whilst maintaining consistency with experiment. Experimental pair–pair correlations were then simulated using a stochastic generalised Debye sum of fourth order. The idealised pair–pair correlation calculations were not able to readily distinguish between models with and without paracrystals. On the other hand, wave mechanical simulations surprisingly showed that paracrystals could be experimentally imaged using phase contrast transmission electron microscopy and/or nanoscale electron diffraction on a contemporary aberration-corrected microscope.

Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo simulation of amorphous carbon: Distinguishing between competing structures obtained using different modeling protocols

We explore different multi-stage and multi-constraint modeling strategies using the Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo (HRMC) technique to develop realistic models for the amorphous structure of silicon carbide derived-carbon, and investigate the effect of modeling parameters on the development of nano-structural features of the constructed models. It is shown that application of long simulations with slow thermal quench rate is essential for modeling of amorphous structures. Nevertheless, very slow quenching rates are shown to lead to the formation of configurations with large fraction of sp2 carbon, lacking the level of disorder required to match structure-related experimental data. The predicted gas adsorption isotherms are very sensitive to the pore size distribution (PSD), thus the final structure must reasonably reproduce the total pore volume and pore size distribution of the experimental sample. The frequently-observed strong first peak of the DFT-based PSD obtained from argon adsorption is shown to be an artifact of argon inaccessibility. Pore accessibility analysis of the constructed models, as well as MD simulations of gas transport demonstrate that the HRMC constructed structures contain short-range structural anisotropy, however the models are successful in capturing the long range internal energy barriers of amorphous carbon for methane.

Differences in the adsorption and diffusion behaviour of water and non-polar gases in nanoporous carbon: role of cooperative effects of pore confinement and hydrogen bonding

We investigate the effect of pore confinement and molecular geometry on the adsorption and self-diffusion of H2O, CO2, Ar, CH4, C3H6, SF6 and C5H12, in a realistic model of nanoporous silicon carbide derived carbon (SiC-DC), constructed using hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulation. Adsorption isotherms, adsorbate–adsorbate and adsorbate–adsorbent contributions to the isosteric heat of adsorption are determined to study the effect of pore confinement, microporosity and molecular geometry on adsorption of these gases. We describe the cooperative effect of pore confinement and hydrogen bonding on the formation of water clusters and anomalous adsorption behaviour of water compared with non-polar gases. We find that, in contrast to literature results based on the slit-pore model, pore-filling does not occur below the saturation pressure in hydrophobic amorphous carbon materials such as SiC-DC and activated carbon fibre. We also compare self-diffusivities and activation energy barriers of water and non-polar gases in the microporous structure of SiC-DC to identify underlying correlations with molecular properties. We demonstrate that the self-diffusivity of water deviates considerably from the correlation between diffusivity and molecular kinetic diameter observed for non-polar gases. This is attributed to the reduced diffusivity of water, and its relatively large energy barrier at high loadings despite its small kinetic diameter, which is due to the blocking effect of water clusters at pore entries.

Carbon Molecular Sieves: Reconstruction of Atomistic Structural Models with Experimental Constraints

We propose a novel methodology for developing experimentally informed structural models of disordered carbon molecular sieves. The hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulation method coupled with wide-angle X-ray scattering experiments is used for constructing an atomistic level model of a representative sample of carbon molecular sieve film (CMS-F) synthesized in our laboratory. We found that CMS-F possesses a disordered matrix enriched with bended carbon chains and various carbon clusters as opposed to the turbostratic carbon or graphite-like microcrystals. The pore structure of CMS-F has a defected lamellar morphology of one-dimensional periodicity with narrow (∼0.4 nm) micropores. The model is applied to study adsorption properties of CMS-F with respect to adsorbates of practical interest, such as N2, H2, CO, and C6H6. Special attention is paid to the phase transformations in the course of adsorption. In particular, we show theoretically and confirm experimentally that nitrogen solidifies within CMS-F pores ...

Slow diffusion of methane in ultra-micropores of silicon carbide-derived carbon

We investigate macroscopic uptake kinetics of CH4 in silicon carbide-derived carbon (SiC-DC). Ultra-microprosity in SiC-DC is found based on CO2 adsorption at 273K, but which has poor accessibility to Ar at 87K. The adsorption kinetics of CH4 is found to follow a bidisperse pore structure model, considering relatively rapid particle scale diffusion in large micropores, and a much slower local grain (or microparticle) scale diffusion in ultra-micropores. The grain scale activation energies are comparable with values for carbon molecular sieves, and consistent with values expected for the size range of the ultra-micropores, while the activation energies for transport in the larger particle scale micropores are comparable to those for conventional activated carbons. The particle scale diffusivities compare well with the results of equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations using a hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulation constructed model of SiC-DC, with similar activation energy. On the other hand microscopic quasi-elastic neutron scattering measurements are found to probe only short-range barriers with lower activation energy. It is anticipated that ultra-micropores will not make a significant contribution to the transport in any membrane or adsorption-based process based on SiC-DC, due to the extremely slow transport in these ultra-micropores and their small pore volume.

Anomalously Enhanced Hydration of Aqueous Electrolyte Solution in Hydrophobic Carbon Nanotubes to Maintain Stability

An understanding of the structure and behavior of electrolyte solutions in nanoenvironements is crucial not only for a wide variety of applications, but also for the development of physical, chemical, and biological processes. We demonstrate the structure and stability of electrolyte in carbon nanotubes using hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulations of X-ray diffraction patterns. Hydrogen bonds between water are adequately formed in carbon nanotubes, although some hydrogen bonds are restricted by the interfaces of carbon nanotubes. The hydrogen bonding network of water in electrolyte in the carbon nanotubes is further weakened. On the other hand, formation of the ion hydration shell is significantly enhanced in the electrolyte in the carbon nanotubes in comparison to ion hydration in bulk electrolyte. The significant hydrogen bond and hydration shell formation are a result of gaining stability in the hydrophobic nanoenvironment.

Structural Modelling of Silicon Carbide-Derived Nanoporous Carbon by Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo Simulation

An atomistic model of the nanoparticle size Silicon Carbide Derived Carbon (SiC-CDC) is constructed using the Hybrid Reverse Monte Carlo (HRMC) simulation technique through a two-step modeling procedure. Pore volume and three-membered ring constraints are utilized in addition to the commonly used structure factor and energy constraints in the HRMC modeling to overcome the challenges arising from uncertainties involved in determining the structure. The final model is characterized for its important structural features including pore volume, surface area, pore size distribution, physical pore accessibility, and structural defects. It is shown that the microporous structure of SiC-CDC 800 possesses a high pore volume and surface area, making it potentially a good candidate for gas adsorption applications. The HRMC model reveals the SiC-CDC 800 structure to be highly amorphous, largely comprising twisted graphene sheets. It is found that these distorted graphene-like carbon sheets comprising the carbon struct...

Mechanism of Sequential Water Transportation by Water Loading and Release in Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

Water in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) displays unique behaviors such as ring-like structure formation, anomalous hydrogen bonds, and fast transportation. We demonstrated the structures and stability of water in loading and release processes using a combination of X-ray diffraction analysis and hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulations. Water formed nanoclusters in water loading, whereas layered structures were formed in water release. The water nanoclusters formed in water loading were well stabilized in CNTs. In contrast, in water release, the water layers were less stable than the water nanoclusters. The significant stabilization of nanoclusters in water loading and the relatively low stability of water layers in water release suggest easy water loading and release through CNTs, providing sequential water transportation through CNTs.

Structural modelling of the LiCl aqueous solution by the hybrid reverse Monte Carlo (HRMC) simulation

The reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) simulation is applied in the study of an aqueous electrolyte LiCl6H2O. On the basis of the available experimental neutron scattering data, RMC computes pair radial distribution functions in order to explore the structural features of the system. The obtained results include some unrealistic features. To overcome this problem, we use the hybrid reverse Monte Carlo (HRMC), incorporating an additional energy constraint in addition to the usual constraints of the pair correlation functions and average coordination. Our results show a good agreement between experimental and computed partial distribution functions (PDFs) as well as a significant improvement in pair partial distribution curves. This kind of study can be considered as a useful test for a defined interaction model for conventional simulation techniques

Nanoscale Structure and Structural Relaxation inZr50Cu45Al5Bulk Metallic Glass

Hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulations of the structure of Zr50Cu45Al5 bulk metallic glass incorporating medium-range structure from fluctuation electron microscopy data and short-range structure from an embedded atom potential produce structures with significant fractions of icosahedral- and crystal-like atomic clusters. Similar clusters group together into nanometer-scale regions, and relaxation transforms crystal-like clusters into icosahedral clusters. A model refined against only the potential does not agree with the fluctuation microscopy data and contains few crystal-like clusters.