Coarse-grained modeling of the nucleation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons into soot precursors

Abstract

The aggregation and physical growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules was simulated using a coarse-grained potential and a stochastic Monte Carlo framework. In agreement with earlier studies, homomolecular nucleation of pyrene, coronene and circumcoronene is found to be limited at temperatures in the 500–1000 K range. Heteromolecular nucleation is found to occur with a minor spontaneous segregation toward pure and equi concentrations.