Self-Assembly and Waterlike Anomalies in Janus Nanoparticles

Abstract

We explore the pressure versus temperature phase diagram of dimeric Janus nanoparticles using Molecular Dynamics simulations. The nanoparticle was modeled as a dumbbells particle, and have one monomer that interacts by a standard Lennard Jones potential and another monomer that is modeled using a two-length scale shoulder potential. Monomeric and dimeric systems modeled by this shoulder potential show waterlike anomalies, and we investigate if a Janus nanoparticle composed by one anomalous monomer will exhibit anomalous behavior and self-assembly structures. The influence of the non-anomalous monomer in the dimeric system properties was explored. We show that the diffusion anomaly is maintained, while the density anomaly can disappear depending on the non-anomalous monomer characteristics. As well, the self-assembled structures are affected. Our results are discussed in the basis of the distinct monomer-monomer interactions and on the two-length scale fluid characteristics.