Energetics of Carbon deposition on Fe(100) and Fe(110) surfaces and subsurfaces

Spin-polarized density functional theory calculations have been performed to investigate carbon deposition and carbide formation on Fe(100) and Fe(110) at different carbon coverage. On Fe(100) with increasing carbon coverage, the most stable carbon adsorption configuration changes from surface carbon adsorption to surface carbon diffusion into subsurface, and surface carbon clustering is not favored thermodynamically. However, surface carbon clustering is more favored kinetically than carbon diffusion; and carbon diffusion into subsurface and surface carbon clustering become competitive. On Fe(110) with increasing surface carbon coverage, the most stable adsorption configuration changes from surface carbon adsorption to surface carbon diffusion into subsurface, and this process is favored both kinetically and thermodynamically, and surface carbon clustering is neither favored nor competitive. Surface carbon deposition might form on Fe(100), while carbide formation might be found on Fe(110).     

Structural and electronic properties of carbon adsorbed on Fe(100)

Density functional theory within general gradient approximation (GGA) has been used to investigate sub-monolayer carbon atom adsorbed on Fe(100) as a function of coverage. The carbon atoms prefer to adsorb in the fourfold hollow site and bind strongly with the Fe surfaces. There is a substantial and strong coverage dependence of the carbon-induced expansion of the first interlayer spacing, reflecting a weakening of Fe–Fe bonds between the two outermost substrate layers. Some charge is found to transfer from substrate Fe to the adsorbate C atoms, which is responsible for the increase of work function. The density of states (DOS) analysis indicates the bonding of carbon with the first surface layer Fe atoms is primarily due to the interaction between Fe 3d_{x2-y2, xy} and C 2p_{x, y} orbitals, and the bonding of carbon with the second surface layer Fe atom that sits directly below the carbon atom is mainly from interaction between the minority spin Fe 3d_z2 and C 2p_z orbitals.     

Chemisorption of Fe on Au-passivated Si（001） surface

The chemisorption of one monolayer of Fe atoms on a Au-passivated Si(001) surface is studied by using the self-consistent tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital method. The Fe adatom chemisorption on an ideal Si(001) surface is also considered for comparison. The chemisorption energy and layer projected density of states for a monolayer of Fe atoms on Au-passivated Si(001) surface are calculated and compared with that of the Fe atoms on an ideal Si(001) surface. The charge transfer is investigated. It is found that the most stable position is at the fourfold hollow site for the adsorbed Fe atoms, which might sit below the Au surface. Therefore there will be a Au－Fe mixed layer at the Fe/Au－Si(100) interface. It is found that the adsorbed Fe atoms cannot sit below the Si surface, indicating that a buffer layer of Au atoms may hinder the intermixing of Fe atoms and Si atoms at the Fe/Au－Si(001) interface effectively, which is in agreement with the experimental results.     

Adsorption of Fe on GaAs(100) Surface

The adsorption of one monolayer Fe atoms on an ideal GaAs (100) surface is studied by using the self-consistent tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital method. The Fe adatom chemisorption on Ga- and As-terminatedsurface are considered separately. A monolayer of S atoms is used to saturate the dangling bonds on one of the supercellsurfaces. Energies of adsorption systems of an Fe atom on different sites are calculated, and the charge transfers areinvestigated. It is found that Fe-As interaction is stronger than Fe-Ga interaction and Fe atoms prefer to be adsorbed onthe As-terminated surface. It is possible for the adsorbed Fe atoms to sit below the As-terminated surface resulting inan Fe-Ga-As mixed layer. The layer projected density states are calculated and compared with that of the clean surface.     

Vector magnetization of a Cr monolayer on an Fe(110) film

The non-collinear magnetic moment distribution at the Cr/Fe(110) interface of an Fe(110) thin film covered by a Cr monolayer is revealed by means of periodic Anderson model calculations. It is shown that the Cr surface has two magnetically non-equivalent sites with magnetic moments canted to each other. The Fe atoms in the subsurface monolayer also acquire two magnetically non-equivalent sites with magnetic moments canted to each other. Non-collinearity is shown to be a ground state for the Cr/Fe(110) multilayer.     

Dynamic ad-dimer twisting assisted nanowire self-assembly on Si(001)

Based on ab initio total energy calculation, we show that a dynamic ad-dimer twisting assisted (DATA) process plays a crucial role in facilitating a novel structural reconstruction involving surface and subsurface atoms on Si(001). It leads to self-assembly of long nanowires of group-V elements (Bi, Sb) in the trenches of surface dimer vacancy lines (DVLs) with a characteristic double-dimer configuration. The key to this is the lowering of the kinetic barrier by the DATA process in conjunction with a favorable interaction between ad-dimers and step edges in DVLs. The present results provide an excellent account for experimental observations and reveal the atomistic origin and the dynamic transformation path for nanowire self-assembly on Si(001).     

氧原子在Pt(111)表面和次表层的吸附与扩散

氧原子在Pt表面的吸附和扩散是理解氧化和腐蚀等问题的基础.基于密度泛函理论和周期平板模型研究了氧原子在Pt(111)表面及次表层的吸附,通过扫描隧道显微镜(STM)的理论计算分析了吸附的结构特征.采用CI-NEB方法讨论了氧原子在Pt(111)表面和次表层的扩散过程.研究结果表明氧原子在Pt(111)表面的扩散比较容易,而氧原子向次表层的扩散相对较难,这主要是因为次表层的扩散需要经过一个Pt原子层,必须克服一定的能垒,从而说明过渡金属Pt具有很强的抗氧化性.     

Ab initio investigation of the clustering of carbon adatoms on Fe(001) and Fe(111) surfaces

A theoretical investigation of the interaction between carbon adatoms on the Fe(001) and Fe( 111 ) surfaces is performed using ab initio calculations in terms of density functional theory. Calc ulations of the adsorption energy demonstrate the existence of a strong bonding between single carbon adatoms and the iron surface. An analysis of the calculated energies of the interaction between carbon adatoms reveals for the first time that the repulsion between the carbon adatoms located at the nearest neighbor sites on the Fe(001) surface occurs and that clusters with a looser packing are formed on the surface.     

Nucleation and growth mechanisms of Fe on Au(111) in the sub-monolayer regime

The growth of Fe on Au(111) at 300 K in the sub-monolayer regime has been investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy, focusing on the mechanisms of nucleation, coalescence and interlayer diffusion. Below a coverage of 0.1 ML, Fe growth proceeds in a well-ordered fashion producing regular arrays of islands, while approaching the island coalescence threshold (above 0.35–0.4 ML), we observed a consistent increasing of random island nucleation. These observations have been interpreted through rate equation models for the island densities in the presence of preferred nucleation sites. The evolution of the second layer fraction has also been interpreted in a rate equation scheme. Our results show that the ordered to random growth transition can be explained by including in the model bond breaking mechanisms due to finite Fe–Fe bond energy. A moderate interlayer diffusion has been inferred from data analysis between the second and the first layer, which has been used to estimate the energy barrier of the adatoms descending process.     

6H-SiC(0001)表面graphene逐层生长的分子动力学研究

利用经典分子动力学方法和模拟退火技术分析研究了6H-ＳiC（0001）表面graphene的逐层生长过程及其形貌结构特点．研究表明,经过高温蒸发表面硅原子后,6H-ＳiC（0001）表面的碳原子能够通过自组织过程生成稳定的局部单原子层graphene结构．这种过程类似于6H-ＳiC（0001）表面graphene的形成,其生长和结构形貌演化主要取决于退火温度和表面碳原子的覆盖程度． 研究发现,当退火温度高于1400K时,6H-ＳiC（0001）表面碳原子能形成局部的单原子层graphene结构．这一转变温 关键词： graphene 碳化硅 分子动力学     

A theoretical study of Fe adsorption along Bi-nanolines on the H/Si(0 0 1) surface

We have investigated the energetic stability and equilibrium geometry of the adsorption of transition metal Fe atoms near the self-organized Bi lines on hydrogen passivated Si(0 0 1) surface. Our total energy results show that there is an attractive interaction between Fe adatoms along the Bi-nanolines. For the energetically most stable configuration, the Fe adatoms are seven-fold coordinated, occupying the subsurface interstitial sites aside the Bi-nanolines. With increased coverage, Fe atoms are predicted to form two parallel lines, symmetrically on both sides of the Bi line. Within our local spin-density functional calculations, we find that for the most stable geometries the Fe adatoms exhibit an antiferromagnetic coupling.     

Adsorptions and diffusions of carbon atoms on the surface and in the subsurface of Co （200）： A first-principles density-functional study

First-principles calculations based on density functional theory are used to investigate the adsorptions and diffusions of carbon atoms on the surface and in the subsurface of Co(200). The preferred site for the carbon atom on the surface is the hollow site, and the preferred site in the subsurface is the octahedral site. There is charge transfer from the surface to the adsorbed carbon atom, and for the most favorable adsorbed structure the charge transfer is largest. Moreover, the energy barriers for the diffusions of carbon atoms on the surface and from the surface into the subsurface and then back to the surface are calculated in detail. The results indicate that the energy barrier for the diffusion of carbon atoms on the surface is comparable to that from the subsurface to the surface. The results imply that both the direct surface nucleation and the surface segregation from Co bulk can be observed in the chemical vapor deposition growth of graphene on Co(200)substrate, which can gain a new insight into the growth mechanism of graphene.     

Ab initio chemisorption studies of H on Fe(110)

Ab initio configuration interaction calculations are performed to study the chemisorption of atomic H on a Fe(110) surface. The lattice is modeled as an embedded three-layer, 40-atom cluster with the Fe atoms fixed at the bulk position. Fe 3d orbitals are explicitly included on five Fe atoms on the surface. Hydrogen strongly binds to the Fe(110) surface at the long-bridge, short-bridge, and quasi three-fold sites. The calculated adsorption energies are 2.76, 2.73, and 2.71 eV, respectively. H-surface bonding at the on-top Fe site is more than 0.4 eV weaker. The calculated H-surface distances are 0.89, 1.03, and 0.87 Å for H at the long-bridge, short-bridge, and quasi three-fold sites, respectively, which agrees well with the LEED value of 0.9 ± 0.1 Å. The H-surface stretching vibrational frequencies are calculated to be 1070, 1066, and 1073 cm⁻¹, at the long-bridge, short-bridge, and quasi three-fold sites, respectively. The work function of Fe(110) decreases on H adsorption. The present calculations indicate that H diffusion into the bulk through the short-bridge site will have a much higher activation barrier than via the long-bridge and quasi three-fold sites.     

The initial growth of Au on GaAs(001)-c(4 × 4)

The metal growth when depositing a monolayer (ML) of Au at 200° C on MBE-grown surfaces of GaAs(001)-c(4 × 4) was studied by AES and RHEED. The surface interaction can be characterized to proceed in two stages depending on the surface coverage of Au. At a coverage of less than 0.3 ML the gold atoms are mainly dispersed on the surface with a small in depth diffusion. Above 0.4 ML there is a rapid intermixing and a tendency of arsenic accumulation to the surface.     

On the oxygen-driven magnetization reorientation in Fe(001) bilayer

Experimentally, very small oxygen doses at Fe bilayer grown at Ag(001) change the magnetization direction from perpendicular to in-plane [Phys. Rev. B 45 (1992) 3636]. We attempt to analyze our previous semi-empirical tight-binding model [Phys. Rev. B 63 (2001) 205427]. For low oxygen coverage, we derive, however, only very small change of magnetic anisotropy energy. Nevertheless, we find indications of the tendency to surface–subsurface antiferromagnetic coupling induced by oxygen and changing markedly the magnetic anisotropy. Another possibility to explain the effect is a preferred oxygen adsorption at specific sites leading to high-coverage regions at the surface.     

Magnetism of CrO overlayers on Fe(001)bcc surface: first principles calculations

Riva et al. [Surf. Sci. 621, 55 (2014)] as well as Calloni et al. [J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 26, 445001 (2014)] have studied the oxydation of Cr films deposited on Fe(001)bcc through low-energy electron diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. In the present work we perform a density functional approach within Quantum Expresso code in order to study structural and magnetic properties of CrO overlayers on Fe(001)bcc. The calculations are performed using DFT+U. The investigated systems include O/Cr/Fe(001)bcc, Cr/O/Fe(001)bcc, Cr_0.25O_0.75/Fe(001)bcc, as well as the O coverage O _x /Cr/Fe(001)bcc (x = 0.25; 0.50). We have found that the ordered CrO overlayer presents an antiferromagnetic coupling between Cr and Fe atoms. The O atoms are located closer to the Fe atoms of the surface than the Cr atoms. The ground state of the systems O/Cr/Fe(001)bcc and Cr/O/Fe(001)bcc corresponds to the O/Cr/Fe(001)bcc system with a magnetic coupling c(2 × 2). The effect of the O monolayer on Cr/Fe(001)bcc changes the ground state from p(1 × 1) ↓ to c(2 × 2) and produces an enhancement of the magnetic moments. The O _x overlayer on Cr/Fe(001)bcc produces an enhancement of the Cr magnetic moments.     

过渡族金属掺杂Al(111)表面对氢分子催化分解的影响

为了探求过渡金属催化剂对催化合成储氢材料NaAlH₄效果的影响, 本文采用第一性原理方法研究了多种金属原子取代Al (111)表面铝原子形成的合金表面对氢的催化分解的影响. 计算结果表明, Sc, V, Fe, Ti原子掺杂的表面对氢分子分解具有催化作用. H₂在对应的掺杂表面催化分解所需要的活化能分别为0.54 eV, 0.29 eV, 0.51 eV, 0.12 eV. H原子在Sc, V, Ti掺杂表面扩散需要的活化能分别为0.51 eV, 0.66 eV, 0.57 eV. 同时, 过渡金属掺杂在Al表面时倾向于分散分布, 增加掺杂表面的掺杂原子个数, 掺杂表面的催化效果体现为单个掺杂过渡金属原子的催化效果. 本研究将为金属掺杂Al (111)表面催化加氢合成NaAlH₄提供理论参考.     

Conversion of surface carbidic to subsurface carbon on cobalt (0001): a theoretical study

Preliminary HFS-LCAO calculations of a nine atom cobalt cluster reveal a minimal energy difference between surface carbidic and subsurface carbon configurations. The electron withdrawing power, and therefore the poisoning effect on potential CO adsorption, is maximal for subsurface C, but localized to immediately neighboring metal atoms. If the metal lattice is kept fixed, the barrier for moving the carbon atom between the two sites is high (4.70 eV) because of steric repulsion. If the three-fold hollow of the cobalt cluster is stretched slightly by only 1%, the barrier is reduced by nearly 50%. By analogy to effective medium calculations, we may expect thermally active phonon modes to allow as much as a 10% lattice relaxation, which can reduce the surface to subsurface carbon barrier by 90% (0.49 eV). Coadsorption with oxygen favors the subsurface carbon site.     

Theoretical study of oxygen adsorption at the Fe(1 1 0) and (1 0 0) surfaces

Electronic, magnetic and structural properties of atomic oxygen adsorbed in on-surface and subsurface sites at the two most densely packed iron surfaces are investigated using density functional theory combined with a thermodynamics formalism. Oxygen coverages varying from a quarter to two monolayers (MLs) are considered. At a 1/4 ML coverage, the most stable on-surface adsorption sites are the twofold long bridge sites on the (1 1 0), and the fourfold-hollow sites on the (1 0 0) surface. The presence of on-surface oxygen atoms enhances the magnetic moments of the atoms of the two topmost Fe layers. Detailed results on the surface magnetic properties, due to O incorporation, are presented as well. Subsurface adsorption is found unfavored. The most stable subsurface O, in tetrahedral positions at the (1 0 0) and octahedral ones at the (1 1 0) surface, are characterized by substantially lower binding than that in the on-surface sites. Subsurface oxygen increases the interplanar distance between the uppermost Fe layers. The preadsorbed oxygen overlayer enhances binding of subsurface O atoms, particularly for tetrahedral sites beneath the (1 1 0) surface.