Document Type
Article
Original Publication Date
2009
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Phys. Rev. Lett.
Volume
103
First Page
207801
DOI of Original Publication
10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.207801
Date of Submission
May 2022
Abstract
We use atomistic simulations to study the orientational dynamics of a nonpolar nanoparticle suspended in water and subject to an electric field. Due to molecular-level effects we describe, the torque exerted on the nanoparticle exceeds continuum-electrostatics based estimates by about a factor of two. The reorientation time of a 16.2×16.2×3.35 ̊A3 nanoparticle in a field E > 0.015V/ ̊A is an order of magnitude less than the field-free orientational time (∼ 1 ns). Surprisingly, the alignment speed is nearly independent of the nanoparticle size in this regime. These findings are relevant for design of novel nanostructures and sensors and development of nanoengineering methods.
Rights
©2009 American Physical Society
Is Part Of
VCU Chemistry Publications
Comments
Author's manuscript version of article published in Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 207801 – Published 10 November 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.207801