Modeling and Simulation of Molecular Communication Systems with a Reversible Adsorption Receiver

In this paper, we present an analytical model for the diffusive molecular communication (MC) system with a reversible adsorption receiver in a fluid environment. The widely used concentration shift keying is considered for modulation. The time-varying spatial distribution of the information molecules under the reversible adsorption and desorption reaction at the surface of a receiver is analytically characterized. Based on the spatial distribution, we derive the net number of adsorbed information molecules expected in any time duration. We further derive the net number of adsorbed molecules expected at the steady state to demonstrate the equilibrium concentration. Given the net number of adsorbed information molecules, the bit error probability of the proposed MC system is analytically approximated. Importantly, we present a simulation framework for the proposed model that accounts for the diffusion and reversible reaction. Simulation results show the accuracy of our derived expressions, and demonstrate the positive effect of the adsorption rate and the negative effect of the desorption rate on the error probability of reversible adsorption receiver with last transmit bit-1. Moreover, our analytical results simplify to the special cases of a full adsorption receiver and a partial adsorption receiver, both of which do not include desorption.