Microscopic Dynamics of the Orientation of a Hydrated Nanoparticle in an Electric Field

Authors

C. d. Daub
D. Bratko, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityFollow
A. Towshif
A. Luzar

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

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

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