Configurational entropy of adsorbed particles on two-dimensional heterogeneous surfaces

The configurational entropy of repulsive interacting particles adsorbed on heterogeneous surfaces is studied by combining Monte Carlo simulation and thermodynamic integration method. The substrate is represented by a bivariate lattice characterized by l×l patches of weak and strong adsorbing sites, arranged in a deterministic chessboard structure. The temperature is varied in such a way that different ordered phases can be formed on the surface. A rich variety of behaviors is found and analyzed in the context of the lattice-gas model.