Simulation of water molecules inside gold nanotubes of various sizes and temperatures

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2009 Feb;9(2):880-4. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2009.c045.

Abstract

This study investigates the behavior of water molecules inside Au nanotubes by molecular dynamics. Different sizes of Au nanotubes under three temperatures for three levels of density of Au nanotube have been studied. The structure of each thermodynamic state is analyzed through the characterization of the hydrogen-bond network. An observation of the water molecule distribution reveals that the adsorption of water molecules creates shell-like formation of water near the Au nanotube wall, and such formations are found to be more pronounced within an Au nanotube. Au atoms of different sizes have an affinity for water molecules at different temperatures.