A molecular dynamics study of coalescence of tungsten nanoparticles

The coalescence behavior of tungsten nanoparticles was investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Two free tungsten nanoparticles and tungsten nanoparticles on tungsten (0 0 1) substrate were studied. For free tungsten nanoparticles, the nanoparticles size, temperature and relative velocity were found to affect the coalescence. The surface effect had a considerable influence during the coalescence process. For coalescence of two tungsten nanoparticles on tungsten (0 0 1) surface, considerable deformation of nanoparticles and significant epitaxy on the nanoparticle-surface interface were observed. When the aligned structures were bombarded with other nanoparticles, the change in surface morphology was found to be more complicated.