Connectedness percolation in the random sequential adsorption packings of elongated particles

TL;DR

This study investigates how the orientation and aspect ratio of elongated particles in 2D packings influence their connectivity and electrical conductivity, revealing anisotropic effects and size-dependent percolation thresholds.

Contribution

It introduces a numerical analysis of connectedness percolation in RSA packings of elongated particles with variable orientation and aspect ratio, highlighting anisotropic conductivity and size effects.

Findings

Orientation affects long-range connectivity and conductivity.

Anisotropic electrical conductivity observed along particle alignment.

Percolation threshold anisotropy diminishes in large systems.

Abstract

Connectedness percolation phenomena in two-dimensional packings of elongated particles (discorectangles) were studied numerically. The packings were produced using random sequential adsorption (RSA) off-lattice model with preferential orientations of particles along a given direction. The partial ordering was characterized by order parameter $S$, with $S=0$ for completely disordered films (random orientation of particles) and $S=1$ for completely aligned particles along the horizontal direction $x$. The aspect ratio (length-to-width ratio) for the particles was varied within the range $\varepsilon \in [1;100]$. Analysis of connectivity was performed assuming a core-shell structure of particles. The value of $S$ affected the structure of packings, formation of long-range connectivity and electrical conductivity behavior. The effects were explained accounting for the competition between the particles' orientational degrees of freedom and the excluded volume effects. For aligned deposition, the anisotropy in electrical conductivity was observed and the values along alignment direction, $\sigma_x$, were larger than the values in perpendicular direction, $\sigma_y$. The anisotropy in localization of percolation threshold was also observed in finite sized packings, but it disappeared in the limit of infinitely large systems.