kmclab 0.1.12

Hex and square lattice KMC classes.

kmclab

kmclab is a lightweight Python package providing lattice-based kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) tools for simulating the surface diffusion of supported metal atoms and small clusters. The framework enables direct extraction of diffusion coefficients from first-principles–derived rate catalogs and includes built-in capabilities for trajectory visualization, mean-squared displacement analysis, and statistical averaging over multiple stochastic realizations.

Lattice classes

kmclab currently provides two primary classes that differ in lattice geometry and site connectivity:

• hexa_kmc : diffusion on a hexagonal lattice
• square_kmc : diffusion on a square lattice

Both classes share an identical workflow and analysis interface, allowing simulations and post-processing routines to be applied consistently across different lattice types.

Core functionality

Each lattice class supports the following diffusion-focused capabilities:

KMC time evolution

• Propagates adatom diffusion using direction-dependent hopping rates
• Supports stoichiometric sites, defective sites (including but not limited to oxygen vacancies and dopants acting as either trapping or blocking defects), and adsorbate-modified sites

Trajectory visualization

Generate animation GIFs of KMC trajectories:

• single-panel: lattice evolution
• two-panel: lattice and MSD vs time evolution

Mean-squared displacement (MSD) analysis and diffusion coefficient calculation

• Compute MSD as a function of time for individual surface realization
• Perform ensemble averaging over multiple stochastic realizations
• Automatically extract diffusion coefficients from the linear (diffusive) MSD regime

Installation

(Optional) Create a new conda environment:

conda create -n test_env python=3.11
conda activate test_env

(Optional) If you use the Spyder IDE you need to also:

conda install spyder-kernels

Install using pip

pip install kmclab

To upgrade to the latest version

pip install -U kmclab

Or you may clone the repository and install in editable mode:

git clone https://github.com/shirinasadix/kmclab.git
cd kmclab
pip install -e .

Usage

Package Structure

kmclab/
├── src/
│   └── kmclab/
│       ├── hexa.py
│       ├── square.py
│       └── __init__.py
├── tests/
├── pyproject.toml
└── README.md

Examples

Minimal Example (Ag monomer diffusion on anatase-TiO2(101) at room temperature)

from kmclab import hexa_kmc

KMC = hexa_kmc(n_atoms = 5, n_defects = 4, n_adsorbates = 4, lattice_size = 10)

KMC.run(n_steps = 100)

KMC.anim1panel()    # Keep `n_steps` for this function relatively small (≈1000), as larger values can significantly increase runtime.
KMC.anim2panel()    # Keep `n_steps` for this function relatively small (≈1000), as larger values can significantly increase runtime.
KMC.msdplot()

Single Run (Visualization)

Here is the step by step guide:

Step 1: Import the KMC class

from kmclab import hexa_kmc         # hexagonal lattice
#from kmclab import square_kmc      # square lattice

Step 2: Define simulation parameters

The parameters set for hexagonal lattice:

hexa_params = {
    # System composition
    'n_atoms': 5,                # Number of mobile adatoms
    'n_defects': 5,              # Number of surface defects
    'n_adsorbates': 5,           # Number of surface adsorbates
    
    # Lattice and simulation control
    'lattice_size': 10,          # Linear size of the lattice
    'T': 300,                    # Temperature (K)
    'seed': 1,                   # Random number seed
    
    'len_vertical' : 0.38e-3,    # Vertical lattice hop distances (µm)
    'len_horizontal' : 0.51e-3,  # Horizontal lattice hop distances (µm)
    'adsorbates_freq' : -1,      # Adsorbate redistribution frequency (required only if n_adsorbates > 0) (-1 disables) 
    
    # Defect behavior
    'defect_type': 1,            # 1 = trapping defects, 2 = blocking defects (required only if n_defects > 0 )

    # Kinetic prefactor
    'k_0': 1,              

    # Diffusion energy barriers on stoichiometric sites along defferent directions (eV)
    'energy_barrier_north': 0.46,
    'energy_barrier_south': 0.46,
    'energy_barrier_northeast': 0.65,
    'energy_barrier_northwest': 0.65,
    'energy_barrier_southeast': 0.65,
    'energy_barrier_southwest': 0.65,

    # Trapping defect energy barriers (required only if n_defects > 0 and defect_type == 1)
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_north': 1.2,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_south': 1.2,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_east': 1.1,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_west': 1.1,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_northeast': 1.1,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_northwest': 1.1,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_southeast': 1.1,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_southwest': 1.1,

    # Blocking defect energy barriers (required only if n_defects > 0 and defect_type == 2)
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_north': 1.2,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_south': 1.2,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_northeast': 1.2,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_northwest': 1.2,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_southeast': 1.2,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_southwest': 1.2,

    # Adsorbate-related diffusion barriers (required only if n_adsorbates > 0)
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_north': 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_south': 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_northeast': 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_northwest': 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_southeast': 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_southwest': 0.72
}

The parameters set for square lattice:

square_params = {
    
    # System composition
    'n_atoms': 5,                 # Number of mobile adatoms
    'n_defects': 5,               # Number of surface defects
    'n_adsorbates': 5,            # Number of surface adsorbates
    
    # Lattice and simulation control
    'lattice_size': 10,           # Linear size of the lattice
    'T': 300,                     # Temperature (K)
    'seed': 1,                    # Random number seed
    
    'len_vertical' : 0.297e-3,    # Vertical lattice hop distances (µm)
    'len_horizontal' : 0.660e-3,  # Horizontal lattice hop distances (µm)
    'adsorbates_freq' : 3,        # Adsorbate redistribution frequency (required only if n_adsorbates > 0) (-1 disables) 
    
    # Defect behavior
    'defect_type': 1,             # 1 = trapping defects, 2 = blocking defects (required only if n_defects > 0 )

    # Kinetic prefactor
    'k_0': 1,              

    # Diffusion energy barriers on stoichiometric sites along defferent directions (eV)
    'energy_barrier_north' : 0.26,
    'energy_barrier_south' : 0.26,
    'energy_barrier_east' : 0.91,
    'energy_barrier_west' : 0.91,       
    'energy_barrier_northeast' : 0.91,
    'energy_barrier_northwest' : 0.91,
    'energy_barrier_southeast' : 0.91,
    'energy_barrier_southwest' : 0.91,

    # Trapping defect energy barriers (required only if n_defects > 0 and defect_type == 1)
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_north' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_south' : 0.99, 
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_northeast' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_northwest' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_southeast' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_southwest' : 0.99,

    # Blocking defect energy barriers (required only if n_defects > 0 and defect_type == 2)
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_north' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_south' : 0.99, 
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_east' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_west' :0.99,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_northeast' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_northwest' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_southeast' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_southwest' : 0.99, 
    
    # Adsorbate-related diffusion barriers (required only if n_adsorbates > 0)
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_north' : 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_south' : 0.72, 
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_east' : 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_west' : 0.72,  
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_northeast' : 0.72,        
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_northwest' : 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_southeast' : 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_southwest' : 0.72}

Step 3: Run the KMC simulation

KMC = hexa_kmc(**hexa_params)                                   # hexagonal lattice
KMC.run(n_steps = 100)  # Total KMC steps (must be > 10)        # hexagonal lattice

#KMC = square_kmc(**square_params)                              # square lattice
#KMC.run(n_steps = 100)  # Total KMC steps (must be > 10)       # square lattice

Step 4: Visualize the results

Lattice Evolution Animation

KMC.anim1panel()    # Keep `n_steps` for this function relatively small (≈1000), as larger values can significantly increase runtime.

Demo (anim1panel)

Ag monomer diffusion on stoichiometric anatase-TiO2(101)

Lattice Evolution + MSD vs Time Evolution Animation

KMC.anim2panel()   # Keep `n_steps` relatively small (≈1000), as larger values can significantly increase runtime.

Demo (anim2panel)

Ag monomer diffusion on reduced anatase-TiO2(101)

Single-Trajectory MSD vs Time

KMC.msdplot()

Demo (msdplot)

Ag monomer diffusion on stoichiometric anatase-TiO2(101)

Multi Run (Diffusion Coefficient Calculation)

The example below shows how to run multiple independent KMC trajectories on a lattice, average the MSD, and extract the diffusion coefficient.

Step 1: Import and setup output directories

from kmclab import hexa_kmc         # hexagonal lattice
#from kmclab import square_kmc      # square lattice
import numpy as np
from pathlib import Path
import shutil

rs_p = Path("random_seeds")

if rs_p.exists():
    shutil.rmtree(rs_p)

(rs_p / "time").mkdir(parents=True)
(rs_p / "msd").mkdir(parents=True)

Step 2: Define simulation parameters

The parameters set for hexagonal lattice:

hexa_params = {
    # System composition
    'n_atoms': 5,                # Number of mobile adatoms
    'n_defects': 5,              # Number of surface defects
    'n_adsorbates': 5,           # Number of surface adsorbates
    
    # Lattice and simulation control
    'lattice_size': 10,          # Linear size of the lattice
    'T': 300,                    # Temperature (K)
    'seed': 1,                   # Random number seed
    
    'len_vertical' : 0.38e-3,    # Vertical lattice hop distances (µm)
    'len_horizontal' : 0.51e-3,  # Horizontal lattice hop distances (µm)
    'adsorbates_freq' : -1,      # Adsorbate redistribution frequency (required only if n_adsorbates > 0) (-1 disables) 
    
    # Defect behavior
    'defect_type': 1,            # 1 = trapping defects, 2 = blocking defects (required only if n_defects > 0 )

    # Kinetic prefactor
    'k_0': 1,              

    # Diffusion energy barriers on stoichiometric sites along defferent directions (eV)
    'energy_barrier_north': 0.46,
    'energy_barrier_south': 0.46,
    'energy_barrier_northeast': 0.65,
    'energy_barrier_northwest': 0.65,
    'energy_barrier_southeast': 0.65,
    'energy_barrier_southwest': 0.65,

    # Trapping defect energy barriers (required only if n_defects > 0 and defect_type == 1)
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_north': 1.2,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_south': 1.2,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_east': 1.1,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_west': 1.1,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_northeast': 1.1,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_northwest': 1.1,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_southeast': 1.1,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_southwest': 1.1,

    # Blocking defect energy barriers (required only if n_defects > 0 and defect_type == 2)
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_north': 1.2,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_south': 1.2,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_northeast': 1.2,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_northwest': 1.2,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_southeast': 1.2,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_southwest': 1.2,

    # Adsorbate-related diffusion barriers (required only if n_adsorbates > 0)
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_north': 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_south': 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_northeast': 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_northwest': 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_southeast': 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_southwest': 0.72
}

The parameters set for square lattice:

square_params = {
    
    # System composition
    'n_atoms': 5,                 # Number of mobile adatoms
    'n_defects': 5,               # Number of surface defects
    'n_adsorbates': 5,            # Number of surface adsorbates
    
    # Lattice and simulation control
    'lattice_size': 10,           # Linear size of the lattice
    'T': 300,                     # Temperature (K)
    'seed': 1,                    # Random number seed
    
    'len_vertical' : 0.297e-3,    # Vertical lattice hop distances (µm)
    'len_horizontal' : 0.660e-3,  # Horizontal lattice hop distances (µm)
    'adsorbates_freq' : 3,        # Adsorbate redistribution frequency (required only if n_adsorbates > 0) (-1 disables) 
    
    # Defect behavior
    'defect_type': 1,             # 1 = trapping defects, 2 = blocking defects (required only if n_defects > 0 )

    # Kinetic prefactor
    'k_0': 1,              

    # Diffusion energy barriers on stoichiometric sites along defferent directions (eV)
    'energy_barrier_north' : 0.26,
    'energy_barrier_south' : 0.26,
    'energy_barrier_east' : 0.91,
    'energy_barrier_west' : 0.91,       
    'energy_barrier_northeast' : 0.91,
    'energy_barrier_northwest' : 0.91,
    'energy_barrier_southeast' : 0.91,
    'energy_barrier_southwest' : 0.91,

    # Trapping defect energy barriers (required only if n_defects > 0 and defect_type == 1)
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_north' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_south' : 0.99, 
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_northeast' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_northwest' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_southeast' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_trapping_defect_southwest' : 0.99,

    # Blocking defect energy barriers (required only if n_defects > 0 and defect_type == 2)
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_north' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_south' : 0.99, 
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_east' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_west' :0.99,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_northeast' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_northwest' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_southeast' : 0.99,
    'energy_barrier_blocking_defect_southwest' : 0.99, 
    
    # Adsorbate-related diffusion barriers (required only if n_adsorbates > 0)
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_north' : 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_south' : 0.72, 
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_east' : 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_west' : 0.72,  
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_northeast' : 0.72,        
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_northwest' : 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_southeast' : 0.72,
    'energy_barrier_adsorbate_southwest' : 0.72}

Step 3: Run multiple KMC trajectories

n_seeds = 25                     # Number of trials
for i in range(n_seeds):

    hexa_params['seed'] = i                  # hexagonal lattice
    print(f'current random_seed = {i}')      # hexagonal lattice
    KMC = hexa_kmc(**hexa_params)            # hexagonal lattice

    #square_params['seed'] = i               # square lattice
    #print(f'current random_seed = {i}')     # square lattice
    #KMC = square_kmc(**square_params)       # square lattice
    
    time, msd = KMC.run(n_steps = 2500)
    
    msd_path = f'random_seeds/msd/rs_{i}'
    time_path = f'random_seeds/time/rs_{i}'
    np.save(msd_path, msd)
    np.save(time_path, time)
    
KMC.msd_histogram(n_seeds = n_seeds)

Demo

Ag monomer diffusion on stoichiometric anatase-TiO2(101)

License

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 Shirin Asadi

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
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