biostudies-literatureGlowacki DRUS Air Force Office of Scientific ResearchEPSRC ProgrammeEPSRCEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council20160206https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5360904biostudies-literatureUnknown375(2092)The extent to which vibrational energy transfer dynamics can impact reaction outcomes beyond the gas phase remains an active research question. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are the method of choice for investigating such questions; however, they can be extremely expensive, and therefore it is worth developing cheaper models that are capable of furnishing reasonable results. This paper has two primary aims. First, we investigate the competition between energy relaxation and reaction at 'hotspots' that form on the surface of diamond during the chemical vapour deposition process. To explore this, we developed an efficient reactive potential energy surface by fitting an empirical valence bond model to higher-level <i>ab initio</i> electronic structure theory. We then ran 160 000 NVE traPhilosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciencesReaction and relaxation at surface hotspots: using molecular dynamics and the energy-grained master equation to describe diamond etching.PMC5360904EP/H043292/1EP/G00224X/1FA9550-16-1-0051Glowacki DRShannon RRodgers WJRobertson SHHarvey JNfalseReaction and relaxation at surface hotspots: using molecular dynamics and the energy-grained master equation to describe diamond etching.The extent to which vibrational energy transfer dynamics can impact reaction outcomes beyond the gas phase remains an active research question. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are the method of choice for investigating such questions; however, they can be extremely expensive, and therefore it is worth developing cheaper models that are capable of furnishing reasonable results. This paper has two primary aims. First, we investigate the competition between energy relaxation and reaction at 'hotspots' that form on the surface of diamond during the chemical vapour deposition process. To explore this, we developed an efficient reactive potential energy surface by fitting an empirical valence bond model to higher-level <i>ab initio</i> electronic structure theory. We then ran 160 000 NVE tra2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Apr2026-05-30T10:37:32.481Z2019-03-26T22:40:40ZS-EPMC53609042832090810.1098/rsta.2016.0206