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Title: Computational simulations of solvation force and squeezing out of dodecane chain molecules in an atomic force microscope

Journal Article · · Journal of Chemical Physics
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4996886 · OSTI ID:1497878

Understanding the squeeze out behaviors of liquid films at nanometer scale in an atomic force microscope (AFM) has been a significant interest since the 1990s. We carry out all-atom static-mode AFM simulations in a liquid-vapor molecular dynamics ensemble to investigate the solvation force oscillation and squeeze out mechanisms of a confined linear dodecane fluid between a gold AFM tip and a mica substrate. Solvation force oscillations are found to be associated with the layering transition of the liquid film and unstable jumps of the AFM tip. Detailed structural analyses and molecular animations show that the local permeation of chain molecules and the squeeze out of molecules near the edge of contact promote the layering transition under compression. The confinement-induced slow down dynamics is manifested by the decrease in diffusivity and increase in rotational relaxation times. Furthermore, the persistent diffusive behavior of dodecane chain molecules even in the single-monolayer film is attributed to the chain sliding motions in the film due to the substantial vacancy space and thermal fluctuations.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
1497878
Journal Information:
Journal of Chemical Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Chemical Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 147; ISSN 0021-9606
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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