Molecular dynamics simulation of solution structure and dynamics of aqueous sodium chloride solutions from dilute to supersaturated concentration

Constant-temperature and constant-pressure (NpT) molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the effects of salt concentration ranging from dilute to supersaturated concentrations on solution structure and dynamical properties of aqueous sodium chloride solutions at 298 K. The rigid SPC/E model was used for water molecules, and sodium and chloride ions were modeled as charged Lennard-Jones particles. Na+-Cl- radial distribution functions showed the presence of contact ion pairs and solvent separated ion pairs. The coordination numbers of Na+-Cl- ion pairs increased with salt concentration up to saturated concentration, although the number of contact ion pairs was almost constant in supersaturated regions. The tracer diffusion coefficients of both ions decreased with salt concentration up to saturated concentration, while that of sodium ion was almost constant in supersaturated regions. The tracer diffusion coefficients of both ions were therefore quite close to each other. The constant number of the contact ion pairs and the almost equality of the tracer diffusion coefficients of both ions would lead to the formation of clusters in supersaturated solutions. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.