arXiv subjects

S. Blazquez

Publications and source records attributed to S. Blazquez.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Molecular dynamics study of perchloric acid using the extended Madrid-2019 force field

Perchloric acid (HClO$_4$) is widely used to prepare perchlorate salts with applications in propellants, industry, environmental chemistry, and biology. In this work, we used the intermolecular parameters from the extended Madrid-2019 force field for the perchlorate anion (ClO$_4^-$) and the oxonium cation (H$_3$O$^+$) together with TIP4P/2005 water to model perchloric acid solutions. The force field uses scaled charges of $\pm0.85e$ for monovalent ions and has been widely applied for aqueous ionic systems. We used the model to predict thermodynamic properties [densities and temperatures of maximum in density (TMD)], structural features (ion-water correlations: ion-hydrogen and ion-oxygen), and transport properties (self-diffusion coefficients and viscosity) of perchloric acid solutions at several concentrations. Experimental densities are predicted in excellent agreement up to 10 $m$. We also performed molecular simulations over a wide range of temperatures in order to determine the TMD of perchloric acid at different molalities. Predicted viscosities at 298.15 K and 1 bar are in good agreement with experimental data for concentrations below 4 $m$. Results are discussed in terms of model strengths and limitations.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2025

Dissociation Line and Driving Force for Nucleation of the Multiple Occupied Hydrogen Hydrate from Computer Simulation

In this work, we determine the dissociation temperature of the hydrogen (H$_2$) hydrate by computer simulation using two different methods. In both cases, the molecules of water and H$_2$ are modeled using the TIP4P/Ice and a modified version of the Silvera and Goldman models respectively, and the Berthelot combining rule for the cross water-H$_2$ interactions has been modified. The first method used in this work is the solubility method which consists in determining the solubility of H$_2$ in an aqueous phase when in contact with a H$_2$ hydrate (H--L$_{\text{w}}$) phase and when in contact with a pure H$_2$ phase (L$_{\text{w}}$--L$_{\text{H}_2}$) at different temperatures. At a given pressure value, both solubility curves intersect at the temperature ($T_3$) at which the three phases coexist in equilibrium. Following this approach, we determine the dissociation temperature of the H$_2$ hydrate at $185\,\text{MPa}$ finding a good agreement with the data previously reported in the literature. We also analyze the effect of the multiple occupancy of the D, or small, and H, or large, cages of the sII hydrate structure. We conclude that the $T_3$ value is barely affected by the occupancy of the H$_2$ hydrate at $185\,\text{MPa}$. From the analysis of the solubility curves and performing extra bulk simulations of the three phases involved in the equilibrium, we also determine the driving force for nucleation ($\Delta\mu^{\text{EC}}_{N}$) at $185\,\text{MPa}$ as a function of the supercooling degree and the H$_2$ hydrate occupancy. We determine that, thermodynamically, the most favored occupancy of the H$_2$ hydrate consists of 1 H$_2$ molecule in the D cages and 3 in the H cages (named as 1-3 occupancy).

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2025

Scaled charges for ions: an improvement but not the final word for modeling electrolytes in water

In this work we discuss the use of scaled charges when developing force fields for NaCl in water. We shall develop force fields for Na$^+$ and Cl$^-$ using the following values for the scaled charge (in electron units) : 0.75, 0.80, 0.85, 0.92 along with the TIP4P/2005 model of water (for which previous force fields were proposed for q = 0.85 and q = 1). The properties considered in this work are: densities, structural properties, transport properties, surface tension, freezing point depression and maximum in density. All the developed models were able to describe quite well the experimental values of the densities. Structural properties were well described by models with charges equal or larger than 0.85, surface tension by the charge 0.92, maximum in density by the charge 0.85 and transport properties by the charge 0.75. The use of a scaled charge of 0.75 is able to reproduce with high accuracy the viscosities and diffusion coefficients of NaCl solutions by the first time. We have also considered the case of KCl in water and the results obtained were fully consistent with those of NaCl. There is no value of the scaled charge able to reproduce all the properties considered in this work. Although certainly scaled charges are not the final word in the development of force fields for electrolytes in water its use may have some practical advantages. Certain values of the scaled charge could be the best option when the interest is to describe certain experimental properties.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2025

Homogeneous nucleation rate of carbon dioxide hydrate formation under experimental condition from Seeding simulations

We investigate the nucleation of carbon dioxide (CO$_2$) hydrates from carbon dioxide aqueous solutions by means of molecular dynamics simulations using the TIP4P/Ice and the TraPPE models for water and CO$_2$ respectively. We work at 400 bar and different temperatures and CO$_2$ concentrations. We use brute force molecular dynamics when the supersaturation or the supercooling are so high so that nucleation occurs spontaneously and Seeding otherwise. We used both methods for a particular state and we get a rate of 10$^{25}\,\text{m}^{-3}\text{s}^{-1}$ for nucleation in a CO$_2$ saturated solution at 255 K (35 K of supercooling). By comparison with our previous work on methane hydrates, we conclude that nucleation of CO$_2$ hydrates is several orders of magnitude faster due to a lower interfacial free energy between the crystal and the solution. By combining our nucleation studies with a recent calculation of the hydrate-solution interfacial free energy at coexistence, we obtain a prediction of the nucleation rate temperature dependence for CO$_{2}$-saturated solutions (the experimentally relevant concentration). On the one hand, we open the window for comparison with experiments for supercooling larger than 25 K. On the other hand, we conclude that homogeneous nucleation is impossible for supercooling lower than 20 K. Therefore, nucleation must be heterogeneous in typical experiments where hydrate formation is observed at low supercooling. To assess the hypothesis that nucleation occurs at the solution-CO$_2$ interface we run spontaneous nucleation simulations in two-phase systems and find, by comparison with single-phase simulations, that the interface does not affect hydrate nucleation, at least at the deep supercooling at which this study was carried out (40 and 45 K). Overall, our work sheds light on molecular and thermodynamic aspects of hydrate nucleation.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2025

Three-phase equilibria of CO$_2$ hydrate from computer simulation in presence of NaCl

In this work, the cryoscopic decrease effect, as a function of the NaCl concentration, on the carbon dioxide (CO$_2$) hydrate dissociation line conditions has been determined through molecular dynamic simulations. In particular, we have determined the three-phase (solid hydrate-aqueous phase-liquid CO$_2$) coexistence temperature at 100, 400, and 1000 at several initial NaCl concentrations in the aqueous phase, from 0.0 to $3.0\,\text{m}$, using the direct-coexistence technique. We have used the well-known TIP4P/2005 and TraPPE force fields for water and CO$_2$ molecules, respectively. Also, the water-salt interactions are described using the Madrid-2019 force field, which has been specifically developed for various salts in combination with the TIP4P/2005 water model. According to the results obtained in this work, the dissociation temperature of the CO$_2$ hydrate decreases when the NaCl concentration in the initial aqueous phase increases. The results obtained are in excellent agreement with experimental data reported in the literature. We have also observed how the dynamic of melting and growth of the CO$_2$ hydrate becomes slower when the NaCl concentration is increased. As a consequence, larger simulation times (in the order of dozens of microseconds) are necessary when the NaCl concentration increases. Finally, we have also analyzed finite-size effects on the three-phase coexistence temperature of these systems by performing simulations, at 400 bar, with two different system sizes at two different NaCl concentrations (0.0 and $3.0\,\text{m}$). Non-negligible deviations have been found between the results obtained from both system sizes.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2024

Three-phase equilibria of hydrates from computer simulation. I. Finite-size effects in the methane hydrate

Clathrate hydrates are vital in energy research and environmental applications. Understanding their stability is crucial for harnessing their potential. In this work, we employ direct coexistence simulations to study finite-size effects in the determination of the three-phase equilibrium temperature ($T_3$) for methane hydrates. Two popular water models, TIP4P/Ice and TIP4P/2005, are employed, exploring various system sizes by varying the number of molecules in the hydrate, liquid, and gas phases. The results reveal that finite-size effects play a crucial role in determining $T_3$. The study includes nine configurations with varying system sizes, demonstrating that smaller systems, particularly those leading to stoichiometric conditions and bubble formation, may yield inaccurate $T_3$ values. The emergence of methane bubbles within the liquid phase, observed in smaller configurations, significantly influences the behavior of the system and can lead to erroneous temperature estimations. Our findings reveal finite size effects on the calculation of the $T_3$ by direct coexistence simulations and clarify the system size convergence for both models, shedding light on discrepancies found in the literature. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of the phase equilibrium of gas hydrates and offer valuable information for future research in this field.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2024

Three-phase equilibria of hydrates from computer simulation. II. Finite-size effects in the carbon dioxide hydrate

In this work, the effects of finite size on the determination of the three-phase coexistence temperature ($T_3$) of carbon dioxide (CO$_2$) hydrate have been studied by molecular dynamic simulations and using the direct coexistence technique. According to this technique, the three phases involved are placed together in the same simulation box. By varying the number of molecules of each phase it is possible to analyze the effect of simulation size and stoichiometry on the $T_3$ determination. In this work, we have determined the $T_3$ value at 8 different pressures and using 6 different simulation boxes with different numbers of molecules and sizes. In 2 of these configurations, the ratio of the number of water and CO$_2$ molecules in the aqueous solution and the liquid CO$_2$ phase is the same as in the hydrate (stoichiometric configuration). In both stoichiometric configurations, the formation of a liquid drop of CO$_2$ in the aqueous phase is observed. This drop, which has a cylindrical geometry, increases the amount of CO$_2$ available in the aqueous solution and can in some cases lead to the crystallization of the hydrate at temperatures above $T_3$, overestimating the $T_3$ value obtained from direct coexistence simulations. The simulation results obtained for the CO$_{2}$ hydrate confirm the sensitivity of $T_{3}$ depending on the size and composition of the system, explaining the discrepancies observed in the original work by Míguez \emph{et al.} Non-stoichiometric configurations with larger unit cells show convergence of $T_{3}$ values, suggesting that finite-size effects for these system sizes, regardless of drop formation, can be safely neglected. The results obtained in this work highlight that the choice of a correct initial configuration is essential to accurately estimate the three-phase coexistence temperature of hydrates by direct coexistence simulations.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2024

Three-phase equilibria of hydrates from computer simulation. III. Effect of dispersive interactions in the methane and carbon dioxide hydrates

In this work, the effect of the range of the dispersive interactions in the determination of the three-phase coexistence line of the CO$_2$ and CH$_4$ hydrates has been studied. In particular, the temperature ($T_3$) at which solid hydrate, water, and liquid CO$_2$/gas CH$_4$ coexist has been determined through molecular dynamics simulations using different cut-off values (from 0.9 to 1.6 nm) for the dispersive interactions. The $T_3$ of both hydrates has been determined using the direct coexistence simulation technique. Following this method, the three phases in equilibrium are put together in the same simulation box, the pressure is fixed, and simulations are performed at different temperatures $T$. If the hydrate melts, then $T>T_3$. Contrary, if the hydrate grows, then $T<T_3$. The effect of the cut-off distance on the dissociation temperature has been analyzed at three different pressures for CO$_{2}$ hydrate, namely, $100$, $400$, and $1000\,\text{bar}$. Then, we have changed the guest and studied the effect of the cut-off distance on the dissociation temperature of the CH$_{4}$ hydrate at $400\,\text{bar}$. Also, the effect of long-range corrections for dispersive interactions has been analyzed by running simulations with homo- and inhomogeneous corrections and a cut-off value of 0.9 nm. The results obtained in this work highlight that the cut-off distance for the dispersive interactions affects the stability conditions of these hydrates. This effect is enhanced when the pressure is decreased, displacing the $T_{3}$ about $2-4\,\text{K}$ depending on the system and the pressure.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2024

Three phase equilibria of the methane hydrate in NaCl solutions: A simulation study

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to determine the three-phase coexistence temperature for a methane hydrate system in equilibrium with a NaCl solution and a methane gas phase. The direct coexistence technique is used following two approaches, one where the triple coexistence temperature for a given NaCl concentration is narrow down and another where the concentration at a given temperature is equilibrated. In both approaches the results are consistent within the error bars. All simulations were carried out at 400 bar and the range of concentrations explored extends up to a molality of 4 m. TIP4P/2005 for water molecules and a simple Lennard-Jones interaction site for methane were used to simulate the system. Positive deviations from the Lorentz-Berthelot energetic rule have been applied between methane and water (i.e., increasing the attractive interaction between water and methane). Na$^+$ and Cl$^-$ ions were described by using the Madrid-2019 scaled charge model. The role played by finite size effects in the calculation of the coexistence line was analyzed by studying a system with larger number of molecules at a given NaCl concentration. Overall, our simulations show that upon NaCl addition to the liquid water phase, a shift in the three-phase equilibrium line to lower temperatures is produced as occurs in the ice-NaCl(aq) system. The depression of the three-phase coexistence line obtained at different concentrations is in a very good agreement with the experimental results.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2024

Computation of Electrical Conductivities of Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions: Two Surfaces , One Property

In this work, we have computed electrical conductivities at ambient conditions of aqueous NaCl and KCl solutions by using the Einstein-Helfand equation. Common force fields (charge q = 1 e) do not reproduce the experimental values of electrical conductivities, viscosities and diffusion coefficients. Recently, we proposed the idea of using different charges to describe the Potential Energy Surface (PES) and the Dipole Moment Surface (DMS). In this work, we implement this concept. The equilibrium trajectories required to evaluate electrical conductivities (within linear response theory) were obtained by using scaled charges (with the value q = 0.75 e ) to describe the PES. The potential parameters were those of the Madrid-Transport force field, which describe accurately viscosities and diffusion coefficients of these ionic solutions. However, integer charges were used to compute the conductivities (thus describing the DMS). The basic idea is that although the scaled charge describes the ion-water interaction better, the integer charge reflects the value of the charge that is transported due to the electric field. The agreement obtained with experiments is excellent, as for the first time electrical conductivities (and the other transport properties) of NaCl and KCl electrolyte solutions are described with high accuracy for the whole concentration range up to their solubility limit. Finally, we propose an easy way to obtain a rough estimate of the actual electrical conductivity of the potential model under consideration using the approximate Nernst-Einstein equation, which neglects correlations between different ions.

physics.chem-ph↗