Accelerated molecular dynamics of temperature-programed desorption

We use accelerated molecular dynamics to simulate temperature-programed desorption (TPD) of n-pentane from the basal plane of graphite in the first atomistic simulations to probe TPD over laboratory time scales. Although the simulated TPD spectra agree with experiment, a detailed analysis reveals underlying kinetic phenomena that contrast the standard experimental interpretation and opens new possibilities for understanding molecular kinetics at solid surfaces.