Molecular dynamic simulations were performed for liquid nano-particles deposited on a disordered substrate. The motion of the nano-particle was characterized by a so-called stick-and-roll diffusive process. Long simulation times (order of µs), analysis of mean square displacements and stacking time distribution functions demonstrated that the nano-particle undergoes a normal diffusion in spite of long sticking times. A phenomenological model was proposed for the size and temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient, in which the activation energy scaled as N1/3.

Diffusion of a Liquid Nanoparticle on a Disordered Substrate. F.Celestini: Physical Review B, 2004, 70[11], 115402 (6pp)