# Molecular dynamics simulation of melting of finite and infinite size silicene

## TL;DR

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations with an optimized Stillinger-Weber potential to determine that free-standing silicene melts at approximately 1500 K, providing visual and quantitative analysis of the melting process.

## Contribution

First systematic MD simulation of silicene melting using an optimized potential, offering detailed indicators and a consistent melting temperature.

## Key findings

- Melting temperature of silicene is about 1500 K.
- Melting scenario is visually captured and analyzed.
- Multiple indicators confirm the melting point.

## Abstract

We report the melting temperature of free-standing silicene by carrying out molecular dynamics (MD) simulation experiments using optimzed Stillinger-Weber (SW) potential by Zhang {\it et al.}. The melting scenario of a free-standing silicene is well captured visually in our MD simulations. The data are systematically analyzed using a few qualitatively different indicators, including caloric curve, radial distribution function and a numerical indicator known as `global similarity index'. The optimized SW potential consistently yield a melting temperature of 1500~K for the simulated free-standing, infinite silicene.