Effects of O defects on adsorption of small Ag clusterson a MgO(001) surface

The interaction of Ag atoms with a defective MgO(001) surface is systematically studied based on density functional theory. The Ag clusters are deposited on neutral and charged oxygen vacancies of the MgO(001) surface. The structures of Ag clusters take the shape of simple models of two- or three-dimensional (2D and 3D) metal particles deposited on the MgO surface. When the nucleation of the metal clusters occurs in the F_s (missing neutral O) centre, the interaction with the substrate is considerably stronger than that in the F_s⁺ (missing O^- ) centre. The results show that the adsorption of Ag atoms on the MgO surface with oxygen vacancy is stronger than on a clear MgO surface, thereby attracting more Ag atoms to cluster together, and forming atomic islands.     

Formation of nitric oxide dimers on MgO-supported gold particles

We present density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the formation of nitric oxide dimers (N₂O₂) on Au atoms, dimers and trimers adsorbed on regular O^2 ? sites and neutral oxygen vacancies (F_s sites) of the MgO(100) surface. The study of the N₂O₂ species is of great interest since it has been detected in the NO reduction reaction as an intermediate towards the formation of N₂O. We found that the coupling of a NO molecule with a previously adsorbed one on Au/MgO is energetically favorable on Au₁ and Au₃, but unfavorable on Au₂. The stability of N₂O₂ is in direct relation with the amount of charge taken from the support. Furthermore, one of the N―O bonds can be activated as a result of the attraction between the negatively charged NO dimer and the ionic oxide surface. In fact, for Au₁ anchored on the F_s site a barrierless reaction occurs between N₂O₂ and a third NO molecule, forming adsorbed N₂O and NO₂.     

Adsorption of SO2 on Li atoms deposited on MgO (1 0 0) surface: DFT calculations

The adsorption of sulfur dioxide molecule (SO₂) on Li atom deposited on the surfaces of metal oxide MgO (1 0 0) on both anionic and defect (F_s-center) sites located on various geometrical defects (terrace, edge and corner) has been studied using density functional theory (DFT) in combination with embedded cluster model. The adsorption energy (E_ads) of SO₂ molecule (S-atom down as well as O-atom down) in different positions on both of O⁻² and F_s sites is considered. The spin density (SD) distribution due to the presence of Li atom is discussed. The geometrical optimizations have been done for the additive materials and MgO substrate surfaces (terrace, edge and corner). The oxygen vacancy formation energies have been evaluated for MgO substrate surfaces. The ionization potential (IP) for defect free and defect containing of the MgO surfaces has been calculated. The adsorption properties of SO₂ are analyzed in terms of the E_ads, the electron donation (basicity), the elongation of S-O bond length and the atomic charges on adsorbed materials. The presence of the Li atom increases the catalytic effect of the anionic O⁻² site of MgO substrate surfaces (converted from physisorption to chemisorption). On the other hand, the presence of the Li atom decreases the catalytic effect of the F_s-site of MgO substrate surfaces. Generally, the SO₂ molecule is strongly adsorbed (chemisorption) on the MgO substrate surfaces containing F_s-center.     

Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of M2Mn3O8 (M = Ca,Cu) compounds and derivatives

M₂Mn₃O₈ (M = Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺) compounds were synthesized and characterized in lithium cells. The M²⁺ cations, which reside in the van der Waals gaps between adjacent sheets of Mn₃O₈⁴⁻, may be replaced chemically (by ion-exchange) or electrochemically with Li. More than 7 Li⁺/Cu₂Mn₃O₈ may be inserted electrochemically, with concomitant reduction of Cu²⁺ to Cu metal, but less Li can be inserted into Ca₂Mn₃O₈. In the case of Cu²⁺, this process is partially reversible when the cell is charged above 3.5 V vs. Li, but intercalation of Cu⁺ rather than Cu²⁺ and Li⁺/Cu⁺ exchange occurs during the subsequent discharge. If the cell potential is kept below 3.4 V, the Li in excess of 4 Li⁺/Cu₂Mn₃O₈ can be cycled reversibly. The unusual mobility of + 2 cations in a layered structure has important implications both for the design of cathodes for Li batteries and for new systems that could be based on M²⁺ intercalation compounds.     

CO adsorption on Ni, Pd, Cu and Ag deposited on MgO, CaO, SrO and BaO: Density functional calculations

The adsorption properties of CO molecules adsorbed on Ni, Pd, Cu and Ag atoms deposited on O²⁻, F and F⁺ sites of MgO, CaO, SrO and BaO terrace surfaces have been studied by means of density functional calculations and embedded cluster model. The examined clusters were embedded in the simulated Coulomb fields that closely approximate the Madelung fields of the host surfaces. The adsorption properties of CO have been analyzed with reference to the basicity of the oxide support, bond order conservation energy, pairwise and non-pairwise additivity, associative adsorption, electrostatic potentials, and orbital interactions. CO adsorption on an oxide support is drastically enhanced when CO is adsorbed on a metal deposited on this support. A dramatic change is found, and explained, when one compares the CO binding energy to O²⁻ and F sites. The formation of a strong bond at the support-metal interface has a considerable consequence on the metal-CO binding energy. The binding of CO is dominated by the metal-CO pairwise additive term, and the non-additivity term increases with increasing the basicity of the support. While the classical contributions to the electrostatic interactions are quite similar for the deposited metals, they are quite dissimilar when going from defect-free to defect-containing surfaces. The adsorption properties correlate linearly with the basicity and energy gaps of the oxide support where the electrostatic potential generated by the oxide modifies the physical and chemical properties of the adsorbed metal and therefore its reactivity versus the CO adsorbate.     

Thermal depolarization in crystals of calcium fluoride doped with oxygen

The study of thermally induced depolarization (TD) in crystals of calcium fluoride doped with oxygen reveals the existence of nearest-neighbour (nn) dipolar complexes comprising substitutional oxide ions (O_s^2?) and fluoride ion vacancies (F_v^?) on nn sites. Evidence for this relaxation is seen in TD experiments both on pure calcium fluoride doped with oxygen and on Na⁺ doped CaF₂ crystals that had been heated in air. Similar measurements on CaF₂: Y³⁺, O^2? reveal six separate relaxations, two of which are due to Y_s^3??F_i^? complexes that do not involve oxygen, one is due to O_s^2??F_v^? dipoles, and one is t the T₁ complex, Y_s³⁺ (O^2?)₄(F_v^?)₃. The remaining two relaxations were not identified but are probably d larger defect clusters.     

Reactivity of (H)(e) color centers at the MgO surface: formation of O2 and N2 radical anions

We have considered the interaction of O₂ and N₂ molecules with electrons trapped at the surface of MgO by performing embedded cluster DFT calculations. Trapped electrons at the surface of MgO react instantaneously with O₂ and N₂ leading to the formation of the corresponding O₂⁻ and N₂⁻ molecular anions stabilized at specific surface sites. So far, the atomistic model for this process was based on the idea that the electrons are trapped at oxygen vacancies, the F_S⁺ centers. Recently, it has been shown that morphological sites at the MgO surface like a reverse corner, a step or a corner, can adsorb hydrogen and stabilize (H⁺)(e⁻) pairs giving rise to a new class of paramagnetic color centers. Here we show that these centers exhibit reactivity towards O₂ and N₂, which is fully consistent with the experimental observations, providing further support to the new model of electron traps at the MgO surface.     

FA(Ga+,In+,Tl+) tunable laser activity and interaction of halogen atoms (F,Cl,Br,I,At) at the (001) surface of KCl crystal: ab initio calculations

An attempt has been made to examine F_A(Ga⁺,In⁺,Tl⁺) tunable laser activity and adsorptivity of halogen atoms (F,Cl,Br,I,At) at the (0 0 1) surface of KCl crystal using an embedded cluster model, CIS and density functional theory calculations with effective core potentials. The ion clusters were embedded in a simulated Coulomb field that closely approximates the Madelung field at the host surface. The nearest neighbor ions to the defect site were then allowed to relax to equilibrium. Based on the calculated strength of electron–phonon coupling and Stokes-shifted optical transition bands, The F_A(Tl⁺) center was found to be the most laser active in agreement with the experimental observation that the optical emissions of F_A(In⁺) and F_A(Ga⁺) centers were strongly quenched. The disappearance of the anisotropy and np splitting observed in the absorption of F_A(Ga⁺,In⁺,Tl⁺) centers were monotonically increasing functions of the size of the impurity cation. The F_A(Ga⁺,In⁺,Tl⁺) defect formation energies followed the order F_A(Ga⁺)>F_A(In⁺)>F_A(Tl⁺). The Glasner–Tompkins empirical relationship between the principal optical absorption of F centers in solids and the fundamental absorption of the host crystal was generalized to include the positive ion species. As far as the adsorptivity of the halogen atoms is concerned, the F and F_A(In⁺,Tl⁺) centers were found to change the nature of adsorption from physical adsorption to chemical adsorption. The adsorption energies were monotonically increasing functions of the electronegativity of the halogen and the amount of charge transferred from the defect-free surface. The calculated adsorption energies were explainable in terms of the electron affinity, the effective nuclear charge and the electrostatic potentials at the surface. The spin pairing mechanism played the dominant role in the course of adsorbate–substrate interactions and the KCl defect-free surface can be made semiconducting by F or F_A(In⁺,Tl⁺) surface imperfections.     

Combined constraints on modified Chaplygin gas model from cosmological observed data: Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach

We use the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method to investigate a global constraints on the modified Chaplygin gas (MCG) model as the unification of dark matter and dark energy from the latest observational data: the Union2 dataset of type supernovae Ia (SNIa), the observational Hubble data (OHD), the cluster X-ray gas mass fraction, the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO), and the cosmic microwave background (CMB) data. In a flat universe, the constraint results for MCG model are, W_bh² = 0.02263^+0.00184_-0.00162 (1s)^+0.00213_-0.00195 (2s){\Omega_{b}h^{2}\,{=}\,0.02263^{+0.00184}_{-0.00162} (1\sigma)^{+0.00213}_{-0.00195} (2\sigma)}, B_s = 0.7788^+0.0736_-0.0723(1s)^+0.0918_-0.0904 (2s){B_{s}\,{=}\,0.7788^{+0.0736}_{-0.0723}(1\sigma)^{+0.0918}_{-0.0904} (2\sigma)}, a = 0.1079^+0.3397_-0.2539 (1s)^+0.4678_-0.2911 (2s){\alpha\,{=}\,0.1079^{+0.3397}_{-0.2539} (1\sigma)^{+0.4678}_{-0.2911} (2\sigma)}, B = 0.00189^+0.00583_-0.00756(1s)^+0.00660_-0.00915 (2s){B\,{=}\,0.00189^{+0.00583}_{-0.00756}(1\sigma)^{+0.00660}_{-0.00915} (2\sigma)}, and H₀=70.711^+4.188_-3.142 (1s)^+5.281_-4.149(2s){H_{0}=70.711^{+4.188}_{-3.142} (1\sigma)^{+5.281}_{-4.149}(2\sigma)}.     

KCl:OH-中O2-色心实验研究

通过调制吸收光谱和电子自旋共振(ESR)谱的测量得知,在被高能射线辐照前后,KCl:OH^-中氧的成分主要以O₂^-的形式存在。O₂^-在样品中的浓度随辐照时间增加而增加,直至(OH)^-完全被辐照分解。O₂^-有相当强的稳定性。其存在与产生过程对增加F₂⁺激光色心的稳定性无直接作用。本文还根据ES 关键词：     

Electronic structure of F,-center in MgO

The embedded-cluster numerical variational method has been developed to calculate the electronic structure of perfect MgO, F and F⁺-centers in MgO. The energy band, bulk density of states has been calculated by cluster Mg₁₄O₁₃, Mg₁₄O₁₂F⁺ and Mg₁₄O₁₂F. The calculated absorption energy for F⁺ and F centers is in good agreement with experimental data. In our calculated defect energy levels, that the first excited state of F⁺-center is at CB-3.46 eV, indicates the necessity of a large photoelectron yielding energy. We also calculate the radius of color center electron, and plot the map of charge-density distribution of valence electrons in which the structure of the color center is shown directly. Received 22 May 1998     

Theoretical study of the coadsorption of CO and O2 on doped cationic gold clusters MAun + (M = Ti, Fe, Au; n = 1, 6, 7)

We present a study based on first-principles calculations of the adsorption of CO on selected equilibrium configurations of MAu_nO₂ ⁺ (M = Ti, Fe; n = 1, 6, 7) complexes resulting from the adsorption of O₂ on doped cationic gold clusters MAu_n ⁺. Empirical rules for the formation of CO₂-MAu_nO⁺ complexes are outlined. The desorption energy of CO₂ is calculated. The adsorption of a second CO molecule on the residual MAu_nO⁺ complex leads in some cases to the formation of CO₂-MAu_n ⁺. The desorption of a second CO₂ molecule brings back to the initial doped gold cluster MAu_n ⁺.     

The role of OH ions in the stabilization of F colour centres in LiF

Thermally Stimulated Depolarisation Current (TSDC) and optical methods are applied to a range of alkali-fluoride crystals in order to establish a model for the stable F ₂ ⁺ - like colour centres in LiF:OH^-. The experimental results for LiF:OH^- suggest that the OH^- defects are partially destroyed under ionising irradiation or during crystal growth. The low-temperature dielectric relaxation signals in LiF:OH^- and LiF:Mg²⁺,OH^- are attributed to highly interacting hydroxide ions and products of their destruction located in extended lattice defects. In LiF:OH^-, in contrast to other alkali halides, the results advocate for a defect-structure model, which considers a neutral defect (ND, probably O₂ or H₂) sited at the anion vacancy of the O^2--V _a ⁺ dipole and which possibly is the “nucleus” for the F ₂ ⁺ centre. The proposed F ₂ ⁺ (ND, O^-) model seems to better explain the dielectric results, compared to the older F ₂ ⁺ (O^2-) and F ₂ ⁺ (O^-) models. The estimate for the electric dipole moment derived from the experimental TSDC bands, gives a value for the F ₂ ⁺ - like centre in LiF:OH^- between those of the F ₂ ⁺ (O^-) and F ₂ ⁺ (O^2-) defects, in good agreement with the proposed F ₂ ⁺ (ND,O^-) model. The reduction of the activation energy barrier of the (re)orientation process of the Mg²⁺V _c ^- (OH^-) complexes in LiF:Mg²⁺,OH^-, and the low-temperature shift of their TSDC band, compared to the single Mg ₂ ⁺ V _c ^- peak in LiF:Mg²⁺, are tentatively ascribed to an increase in the crystal-lattice parameters owing to the presence of OH^- and/or products of its destruction. Received 31 August 2001 / Received in final form 30 March 2002 Published online 9 July 2002     

CO interaction with Au atoms adsorbed on terrace, edge and corner sites of the MgO(1 0 0) surface. Electronic structure and vibrational analysis from DFT

The interaction of CO with Au atoms adsorbed on terrace and low-coordinates sites (edge and corner) of the MgO(1 0 0) surface was studied using the density functional theory (DFT) in combination with embedded cluster models. Surface anionic (O²⁻) and neutral oxygen vacancy (F_s) sites were considered. In all the cases, the CO stretching frequencies are shifted with respect to free CO with values between −232 and −358 cm⁻¹. In particular, the values for Au on F_s at edge and corner are shifted to higher stretching frequencies by 100 and 59 cm⁻¹, respectively, with respect to the value on a perfect MgO(1 0 0) surface. This result is in agreement with recent scanning tunneling microscopy and infrared spectroscopy experiments where a corresponding shift of 70 cm⁻¹ was observed by comparing the measurements on perfect and O-deficient MgO(1 0 0) surfaces. However, these results are different than expected because Au atoms on F_s centers are negatively charged and, therefore, according to the generally accepted scheme the CO frequency should be red-shifted with respect to the adsorption on anionic five-coordinated site where the Au atom is essentially neutral. The following picture emerges from the present results: the single occupied HOMO(α) of Au atom on F_s at low-coordinated sites consists in two lobes extended sideward the Au atom. For symmetry reasons, this MO overlaps efficiently with the 2π^∗ MO of CO. This bonding contribution to the Au-CO link is counteracted by a Pauli repulsion between the 5σ MO of CO and more internal orbitals (the HOMO-1(α) and the HOMO(β)) centered on Au. In consequence, CO is forced to vibrate against a region with a high electron density. This is the so-called “wall effect” which by itself contributes to higher CO frequency values.     

DRIFTS study of different gas adsorption for CO selective oxidation on Cu-Zr-Ce-O catalysts

The adsorptions of different gases (CO, H₂ and O₂) in the hydrogen-rich gas on the co-precipitated Cu-Zr-Ce-O catalyst were discussed and the active sites were ascertained with infrared spectroscopy technique. It was shown that the adsorption strength of CO was stronger than that of O₂ or H₂. Hydrogen and CO were competitive adsorption and the coexistence H₂ and CO on the surface accelerated the rate of CO desorption. Adsorbed H₂ could convert into geminal OH groups on the ceria surface at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, while it was easy to form surface hydroxyl groups at low temperatures and condensed to physical water with increasing desorption temperature in the existence of oxygen. The adsorption of CO₂ was strong and it could transform into thermal stable carbonate species even in the reaction conditions. The active sites of the Cu-Zr-Ce-O catalyst were Cu²⁺ and Cu⁺, mainly the latter. The oxygen defect sites could be formed on the Cu-Zr-Ce-O catalyst surface through dehydration and decarboxylation.     

Characterization of Cu1.4Mn1.6O4/PPy composite electrodes

In this work, we have studied the multilayered polypyrrole(PPy)/oxide composite electrode on glassy carbon (GC) having the structure GC/PPy/PPy(Cu_1.4Mn_1.6O₄)/PPy using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Mn K-edge and Cu K-edge XANES and EXAFS. The mixed oxide particles have been incorporated into the PPy matrix simultaneously to the electropolymerization of Py from a solution containing 0.1 M Py + 0.15 M KCl + Cu_1.4Mn_1.6O₄. The XPS data have shown that, prior to the incorporation of the oxide into the PPy matrix, it contains Cu⁺, Cu²⁺, Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺. The XPS, XANES and EXAFS results have shown that when the oxide is incorporated into the PPy matrix, the Cu⁺ present in the original oxide suffers dismutation to give Cu²⁺ and metallic Cu. The metallic Cu is segregated out of the spinel structure. The Mn K-edge XANES and EXAFS data show that, after the incorporation into the PPy matrix, Mn is present as Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ occupying octahedral sites in a spinel-related structure while the Cu K-edge XANES and EXAFS data indicate that copper occupies tetrahedral sites predominantly in that structure but having a large degree of disorder in the second and higher coordination shells.     

Physical and Spectral Investigations of Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-Doped Alkali Zinc Borate Glasses

Physical and spectral studies on 20ZnO + xLi₂O + (30-x)Na₂O + 50B₂O₃ (5 ≤ x ≥ 25) doped with 0.1 mol% of paramagnetic CuO impurity are carried out. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of the glass samples confirm the amorphous nature. The physical parameters of all the glasses were also evaluated with respect to the composition. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of all these glasses exhibit resonance signals that are characteristic of Cu²⁺ ions. The optical absorption spectra also confirm the Cu²⁺ ion in tetragonally elongated octahedral site. Various crystal field, spin-Hamiltonian and bonding parameters are evaluated. It is observed that the mixed alkali effect is significant.     

A density functional theory study on the adsorption and dissociation of N2O on Cu2O(1 1 1) surface

Density functional theory has been employed to investigate the adsorption and the dissociation of an N₂O at different sites on perfect and defective Cu₂O(1 1 1) surfaces. The calculations are performed on periodic systems using slab model. The Lewis acid site, Cu_CUS, and Lewis base site, O_SUF are considered for adsorption. Adsorption energies and the energies of the dissociation reaction N₂O → N₂ + O(s) at different sites are calculated. The calculations show that adsorption of N₂O is more favorable on Cu_CUS adsorption site energetically. Cu_CUS site exhibits a very high activity. The Cu_CUS-N₂O reaction is exothermic with a reaction energy of 77.45 kJ mol⁻¹ and an activation energy of 88.82 kJ mol⁻¹, whereas the O_SUF-N₂O reaction is endothermic with a reaction energy of 205.21 kJ mol⁻¹ and an activation energy of 256.19 kJ mol⁻¹. The calculations for defective surface indicate that O vacancy cannot obviously improve the catalytic activity of Cu₂O.     

Aggregate color center formation processes in lithium fluoride crystals after irradiation

Lithium fluoride crystals were irradiated by different doses of gamma photons at a temperature of 77 K. We measured the aggregation kinetics for the color centers with different annealing temperatures above the temperature of anion vacancy mobility. We show that the lifetimes of the vacancies decrease while the lifetimes of the F₂⁺ F_2^{+} centers increase as the irradiation dose increases. We explain these types of dependences based on the aggregation processes for color centers in the post-radiation period. We determine the time constants and energies (analogous to activation energies in the Arrhenius equation) for the various processes involving rise and fall in the concentration of aggregate color centers. Based on the experimental data obtained, we have established the processes forming F ₂ and F₃⁺ F_3^{+} centers in the post-radiation period. The F ₂ centers are formed when vacancies ν_a add to F₁^- F_1^{-} centers. Vacancies arising during irradiation of the crystal participate in their creation in the first fast stage. In the long final stage, vacancies are used which appear in the post-radiation period on occurrence of the reaction F₂⁺ F_2^{+} + H → ν_a + fluoride ion at the lattice site, where H is an interstitial fluorine atom. The F₃⁺ F_3^{+} centers are formed both by merging F₂⁺ F_2^{+} and F ₁ centers and as a result of addition of vacancies to F ₂ centers. In this case, vacancies are used that are generated not only during irradiation of the crystal but also in the post-radiation period. The rise in the concentration of F₃⁺ F_3^{+} centers occurs faster than the rise in the concentration of F ₂ centers.