Construction of a lattice Monte Carlo model of layer-by-layer growth of bimetallic nanoparticles

Abstract

Based on the Metropolis software, a lattice statistical model of the layer-by-layer growth of bimetallic nanoparticles has been implemented. As an example, this paper analyzes two types of lattices: fcc and decahedral. On their basis, the growth of free Au-Ag nanoparticles is modeled in three modes that differ in growth stages: 3, 4, or 7 bimetallic layers are added. The interatomic interaction is set by the tight-binding potential, however, the constructed model does not exclude the possibility of using other modifications of the proven many-particle potentials. The change in the specific potential energy of entire nanoparticles and gold atoms during layer-by-layer growth is analyzed. The dependence of the number of mixed bonds on the layer number is studied for the entire nanoparticle and for the gold subsystem.

Keywords

• computer experiment
• monte carlo method
• metropolis scheme
• layer-by-layer growth
• bimetallic nanoparticles
• mixed bonds