The structure and thermodynamic properties of the liquid–vapor interface are of fundamental interest for numerous technological implications. For simple molecules, e.g., argon and water, the molecular condensation/evaporation behavior depends strongly on their translational motion and the system temperature. Existing molecular dynamics (MD) results are consistent with the theoretical predictions based on the assumption that the liquid and vapor states in the vicinity of the liquid–vapor interface are isotropic. Additionally, similar molecular condensation/evaporation characteristics have been found for long-chain molecules, e.g., dodecane. It is unclear, however, whether the isotropic assumption is valid and whether the molecular orientation or the chain length of the molecules affects the condensation/evaporation behavior at the liquid–vapor interface. In this study, MD simulations were performed to study the molecular condensation/evaporation behavior of the straight-chain alkanes, i.e., butane, octane, and dodecane, at the liquid–vapor interface, and the effects of the molecular orientation and chain length were investigated in equilibrium systems. The results showed that the condensation/evaporation behavior of chain molecules primarily depends on the molecular translational energy and the surface temperature and is independent of the molecular chain length. Furthermore, the orientation at the liquid–vapor interface was disordered when the surface temperature was sufficiently higher than the triple point and had no significant effect on the molecular condensation/evaporation behavior. The validity of the isotropic assumption was confirmed, and we conclude that the condensation/evaporation coefficients can be predicted by the liquid-to-vapor translational length ratio, even for chain molecules.
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7 July 2015
Research Article|
July 07 2015
Molecular dynamics study on condensation/evaporation coefficients of chain molecules at liquid–vapor interface
Gyoko Nagayama
;
Gyoko Nagayama
a)
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Kyushu Institute of Technology
, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 804-8550, Japan
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Masaki Takematsu;
Masaki Takematsu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Kyushu Institute of Technology
, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 804-8550, Japan
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Hirotaka Mizuguchi;
Hirotaka Mizuguchi
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Kyushu Institute of Technology
, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 804-8550, Japan
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Takaharu Tsuruta
Takaharu Tsuruta
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Kyushu Institute of Technology
, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 804-8550, Japan
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a)
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic mail: nagayama@mech.kyutech.ac.jp
J. Chem. Phys. 143, 014706 (2015)
Article history
Received:
May 14 2015
Accepted:
June 18 2015
Citation
Gyoko Nagayama, Masaki Takematsu, Hirotaka Mizuguchi, Takaharu Tsuruta; Molecular dynamics study on condensation/evaporation coefficients of chain molecules at liquid–vapor interface. J. Chem. Phys. 7 July 2015; 143 (1): 014706. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4923261
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