Molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations often rely on Lennard-Jones (LJ) potentials for nonbond interactions. We present 12-6 and 9-6 LJ parameters for several face-centered cubic metals (Ag, Al, Au, Cu, Ni, Pb, Pd, Pt) which reproduce densities, surface tensions, interface properties with water and (bio)organic molecules, as well as mechanical properties in quantitative (<0.1%) to good qualitative (25%) agreement with experiment under ambient conditions. Deviations associated with earlier LJ models have been reduced by 1 order of magnitude due to the precise fit of the new models to densities and surface tensions under standard conditions, which also leads to significantly improved results for surface energy anisotropies, interface tensions, and mechanical properties. The performance is comparable to tight-binding and embedded atom models at up to a million times lower computational cost. The models extend classical simulation methods to metals and a variety of interfaces with biopolymers, surfactants, and other nanostructured materials through compatibility with widely used force fields, including AMBER, CHARMM, COMPASS, CVFF, OPLS-AA, and PCFF. Limitations include the neglect of electronic structure effects and the restriction to noncovalent interactions with the metals.

We investigated molecular interactions involved in the selective binding of several short peptides derived from phage-display techniques (8−12 amino acids, excluding Cys) to surfaces of Au, Pd, and Pd−Au bimetal. The quantitative analysis of changes in energy and conformation upon adsorption on even {111} and {100} surfaces was carried out by molecular dynamics simulation using an efficient computational screening technique, including 1000 explicit water molecules and physically meaningful peptide concentrations at pH = 7. Changes in chain conformation from the solution to the adsorbed state over the course of multiple nanoseconds suggest that the peptides preferably interact with vacant sites of the face-centered cubic lattice above the metal surface. Residues that contribute to binding are in direct contact with the metal surfaces, and less-binding residues are separated from the surface by one or two water layers. The strength of adsorption ranges from 0 to −100 kcal/(mol peptide) and scales with the surface energy of the metal (Pd surfaces are more attractive than Au surfaces), the affinity of individual residues versus the affinity of water, and conformation aspects, as well as polarization and charge transfer at the metal interface (only qualitatively considered here). A hexagonal spacing of ∼1.6 Å between available lattice sites on the {111} surfaces accounts for the characteristic adsorption of aromatic side groups and various other residues (including Tyr, Phe, Asp, His, Arg, Asn, Ser), and a quadratic spacing of ∼2.8 Å between available lattice sites on the {100} surface accounts for a significantly lower affinity to all peptides in favor of mobile water molecules. The combination of these factors suggests a “soft epitaxy” mechanism of binding. On a bimetallic Pd−Au {111} surface, binding patterns are similar, and the polarity of the bimetal junction can modify the binding energy by ∼10 kcal/mol. The results are semiquantitatively supported by experimental measurements of the affinity of peptides and small molecules to metal surfaces as well as results from quantum-mechanical calculations on small peptide and surface fragments. Interfaces were modeled using the consistent valence force field extended for Lennard-Jones parameters for fcc metals which accurately reproduce surface and interface energies [Heinz, H.; Vaia, R. A.; Farmer, B. L.; Naik, R. R. J. Phys. Chem. C 2008, 112, 17281−17290].

Layered silicates are widely used in nanotechnology and composite materials. We describe a force field for phyllosilicates (mica, montmorillonite, and pyrophyllite) on the basis of physically justified atomic charges, van der Waals parameters, vibrational constants, and distributions of charge defects in agreement with solid state 29 Si NMR data. Unit cell parameters deviate only ∼0.5% relative to experimental X-ray measurements and surface (respectively cleavage) energies deviate less than 10% from experimental data, including the partition between Coulomb and van der Waals contributions. Reproduction of surface energies facilitates quantitative simulations of hybrid interfaces with water, organics, and biomolecules for which accurate force fields are available. Parameters are consistent with the force fields PCFF (polymer consistent force field), CVFF (consistent valence force field), CHARMM (chemistry at Harvard macromolecular mechanics), and GROMACS (Groningen machine for chemical simulations). As an example of interest, we investigate the structure and dynamics of octadecylammonium montmorillonite ("C 18 "-montmorillonite, cation exchange capacity ) 91 mmol/100 g) by molecular dynamics simulation. The surfactant chains assemble essentially as a bilayer with minimal interpenetration within the gallery while the ammonium headgroups are hydrogen-bonded to cavities in the montmorillonite surface. In contrast to quaternary ammonium ions, no rearrangements on the surface have been observed (cavity crossing barrier >5 kcal/mol). The alkyl chains are in a liquidlike state with approximately 30% gauche conformations, in agreement with previous Fourier-transform infrared and solid-state NMR measurements. Computed X-ray diffraction patterns of sodium and C 18 -montmorillonite agree very well with X-ray patterns from experiment, and the computational model can assist in the assignment of complex reflections.