Mechanical wave propagation within nanogold granular crystals

We computationally investigate the wave propagation characteristics of nanoscopic granular crystals composed of one-dimensionally arrayed gold nanoparticles using molecular dynamics simulation. We examine two basic configurations, i.e. homogeneous lattices and diatomic lattices with mass-mismatch. We discover that homogeneous lattices of gold nanospheres support weakly dissipative and highly localized solitary wave at 300 K, while diatomic lattices have a good tuning ability of transmittance and wave speed. We establish a validated nonlinear spring contact model with the consideration of complex interactions between gold nanospheres which reveals the physical nature of wave behaviors at nanoscale. This work sheds light on the application of nanogold as a novel mechanical wave tuner, qualitatively and fundamentally different from its counterpart granular materials at meso- and macroscale.