The atomic scale structure of CXV carbon: wide-angle x-ray scattering and modeling studies.

The disordered structure of commercially available CXV activated carbon produced from finely powdered wood-based carbon has been studied using the wide-angle x-ray scattering technique, molecular dynamics and density functional theory simulations. The x-ray scattering data has been converted to the real space representation in the form of the pair correlation function via the Fourier transform. Geometry optimizations using classical molecular dynamics based on the reactive empirical bond order potential and density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31g* level have been performed to generate nanoscale models of CXV carbon consistent with the experimental data. The final model of the structure comprises four chain-like and buckled graphitic layers containing a small percentage of four-fold coordinated atoms (sp(3) defects) in each layer. The presence of non-hexagonal rings in the atomic arrangement has been also considered.

Structural modeling of dahlia-type single-walled carbon nanohorn aggregates by molecular dynamics.

The structure of dahlia-type single-walled carbon nanohorn aggregates has been modeled by classical molecular dynamics simulations, and the validity of the model has been verified by neutron diffraction. Computer-generated models consisted of an outer part formed from single-walled carbon nanohorns with diameters of 20-50 Å and a length of 400 Å and an inner turbostratic graphite-like core with a diameter of 130 Å. The diffracted intensity and the pair correlation function computed for such a constructed model are in good agreement with the neutron diffraction experimental data. The proposed turbostratic inner core explains the occurrence of the additional (002) and (004) graphitic peaks in the diffraction pattern of the studied sample and provides information about the interior structure of the dahlia-type aggregates.

Graphene-like structure of activated anthracites.

The structure of a series of activated carbons prepared from anthracite by chemical activation has been studied using wide-angle x-ray scattering, molecular dynamics and Raman spectroscopy. The BET surface areas of the investigated samples are in the range 1500-3430 m(2) g(-1) and the average pore sizes vary from 0.75 to 1.35 nm. The diffraction measurements were carried out to a maximum value of the scattering vector K(max) = 22 Å(-1). The obtained diffraction data have been converted to a real space representation in the form of the pair correlation function. The structure of the studied samples consists of one or two graphite-like layers, stacked without spatial correlations. The size of the ordered layer region is approximately 24 Å. The atomic arrangement within an individual layer has been described in terms of paracrystalline ordering, in which lattice distortions are propagated proportionally to the square root of inter-atomic distances. The paracrystalline structure has been simulated by introducing the Stone-Thrower-Wales, mono-vacancy and di-vacancy defects, randomly distributed in the network. These defects lead to the formation of a defected network with the presence of non-hexagonal rings in which distortion of the structure extends outside of a defect region. Computer generated structural models have been relaxed at room temperature using the reactive empirical bond order potential for intra-layer interactions and the Lennard-Jones potential for inter-layer interactions. For such generated models the structure factors and the pair correlation functions were computed. A good agreement between the simulation results and the experimental data in both reciprocal and real space provides evidence for the correctness of the proposed models. The Raman data support the validity of these models. Porosity of the activated anthracites is discussed in relation to their defective structure.

Application of molecular dynamics simulations for structural studies of carbon nanotubes.

Molecular dynamics studies based on the Brenner-Tersoff second-generation reactive empirical bond order potential and the Lennard-Jones carbon-carbon potential for intra- and inter-layer interactions have been performed for carbon nanotubes. These potentials reproduce reasonably the carbon-carbon distances and inter-layer spacing. The structure factors and the reduced radial distribution functions computed from the cartesian coordinates, resulting from energy minimisation and molecular dynamics simulations at 2 K and 300 K have been obtained for two models of two- and five-wall carbon nanotubes containing defects in the form of five and seven membered carbon rings. The results of computations have been compared with experimental data obtained from neutron and X-ray diffraction. The energy relaxation and the molecular dynamics simulations at 2 K and 300 K with appropriate values of the Debye-Waller factor lead practically to the same results which are in a good agreement with the experimental data indicating that molecular dynamics reproduce all structure features of the investigated carbon nanotubes together with thermal oscillations. Possible applications of this approach for other carbon nanotubes and related materials have been also discussed.

Three-dimensional Ewald method with correction term for a system periodic in one direction.

A three-dimensional Ewald summation formula with a shape-dependent correction term for Coulomb interactions in systems with one-dimensional periodicity is derived. Test molecular dynamics simulations of acetone molecules in cylindrical silica pores show that the formula is efficient only when size of the system in a plane perpendicular to the periodicity direction is small in comparison with the periodicity length.