Shapes for maximal coverage for two-dimensional random sequential adsorption

TL;DR

This study investigates how particle shape anisotropy affects the maximum packing density in two-dimensional random sequential adsorption, identifying an optimal shape that achieves high packing fractions.

Contribution

It introduces a concave dimer shape that maximizes packing density in 2D RSA, outperforming many other shapes and providing insights into shape influence.

Findings

Concave dimer shape achieves a packing fraction of 0.5833.

Optimal anisotropy level exists for all tested particle shapes.

The shape's geometry explains its high packing efficiency.

Abstract

The random sequential adsorption of various particle shapes is studied in order to determine the influence of particle anisotropy on the saturated random packing. For all tested particles there is an optimal level of anisotropy which maximizes the saturated packing fraction. It is found that a concave shape derived from a dimer of disks gives a packing fraction of 0.5833, which is comparable to the maximum packing fraction of ellipsoids and spherocylinders and higher than any other studied shape. Discussion why this shape is so beneficial for random sequential adsorption is given.