Random sequential adsorption

Random sequential adsorption (RSA) is like a game of Tetris where you have different shapes that you need to fit into a space without leaving any gaps between them. Instead of shapes, RSA involves small particles that need to be placed on a surface in such a way that they do not overlap or leave any empty spaces.

Imagine you have a big tray with small coins and you need to put more coins on it. But, there is a rule that the new coins cannot touch any of the existing coins or overlap them. You need to carefully place each new coin in an empty spot that is not too close to any of the other coins.

RSA is a way of understanding how particles, like atoms or molecules, can stick to a surface through adsorption without overlapping or leaving any spaces. Scientists use mathematical models to simulate how particles would behave if they were randomly added to a surface.

The RSA process starts with an empty surface and one particle is added randomly. The simulation checks if the particle can be placed without touching any other particles. If so, it stays in place, if not, it is rejected.

Then, a second particle is added and the same process is repeated until no more particles can be added without violating the no-overlap rule. At the end of the simulation, the scientists can examine how many particles were successfully placed and how much empty space remains.

RSA is a useful tool for understanding the behavior of particles on surfaces, and it has applications in many fields including chemistry, physics, and materials science.