Effect of charge distribution on the electrostatic adsorption of Janus nanoparticles onto charged surface

Abstract

We carried out coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to study the electrostatic adsorption of Janus nanoparticles which consist of oppositely charged hemispheres onto charged surfaces. Films with different conformations were formed by Janus nanoparticles. The effects of charge distributions of Janus nanoparticles and the surface on the film structures and dynamic adsorption behavior were investigated in detail. When the surface is highly charged, Janus nanoparticles tend to form single particles or small clusters. In these cases, the surface charge distribution plays an important role in regulating the process of electrostatic adsorption. When the amount of surface charges is reduced, the effect of charge distribution of Janus nanoparticles becomes significant. The repulsive interactions between Janus nanoparticles determine the aggregation behavior of Janus nanoparticles as well as the shape of adsorption structures, which tends to separate Janus nanoparticles and results in a thin adsorption layer and small clusters. When the number of positive charges on the surface of Janus nanoparticle approaches that of negative charges, Janus nanoparticles aggregate into large clusters close to charged surface. The charge distribution of Janus nanoparticles becomes pronounced in the process of electrostatic adsorption.