Molecular dynamics study of the surface scattering and capture of nanoparticles at high velocities

•Classical molecular dynamics methods used to study the scattering of nanoparticles.•Calculations reproduce experimental data on the critical velocities scattered particles need to escape from a surface.•Calculations reproduce the transition in particle scattering from elastic to plastic deformation.•Calculations highlight the significance of dissipative dynamics in the particle collision process.

Classical molecular dynamics has been used to simulate the elastic scattering of single solid nano-particles from a flat rigid surface. The results show that with the inclusion of a weighted dissipative force the method is capable of reproducing experimental measurements of the critical velocities required for sodium chloride and silver nano-particles to experience elastic scattering from a surface. The velocity at which impacting particles undergo a transition away from elastic scattering and towards plastic deformation is also reproduced.

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