# Sedimentation of a suspension of rods: Monte Carlo simulation of a continuous two-dimensional problem

## TL;DR

This study uses kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to explore how rods sediment and self-assemble in a two-dimensional suspension, revealing controllable anisotropic electrical properties.

## Contribution

It introduces a continuous off-lattice model for rod sedimentation and analyzes how initial density and sedimentation rate influence self-assembly and anisotropy.

## Key findings

- Different sedimentation-driven self-assembly patterns were observed.
- Electrical conductivity anisotropy can be finely tuned by initial conditions.
- Spatial distribution and order parameters depend on initial density and sedimentation rate.

## Abstract

The sedimentation of a two dimensional suspension containing rods was studied by means of kinetic Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. An off-lattice model with continuous positional and orientational degrees of freedom was considered. The initial state before sedimentation was produced using a model of random sequential adsorption. During such sedimentation, the rods undergo translational and rotational Brownian motions. The MC simulations were run at different initial number densities (the numbers of rods per unit area), $\rho_i$, and sedimentation rates, $u$. For sediment films, the spatial distributions of the rods, the order parameters and the electrical conductivities were examined. Different types of sedimentation-driven self-assembly and anisotropy of the electrical conductivity were revealed inside the sediment films. This anisotropy can be finely regulated by changes in the values of $\rho_i$ and $u$.