Influence of Pb adatom on adsorption of oxygen molecules on Pb(111) surface: a first-principles study

Using first-principles calculations, we systematically study the influence of Pb adatom on the adsorption and the dissociation of oxygen molecules on Pb(111) surface, to explore the effect of a point defect on the oxidation of the Pb(111) surface. We find that when an oxygen molecule is adsorbed near an adatom on the Pb surface, the molecule will be dissociated without any obvious barriers, and the dissociated O atoms bond with both the adatom and the surface Pb atoms. The adsorption energy in this situation is much larger than that on a clean Pb surface. Besides, for an adsorbed oxygen molecule on a clean Pb surface, a diffusing Pb adatom can also change its adsorption state and enlarge the adsorption energy for O, but it does not make the oxygen molecule dissociated. And in this situation, there is a molecule-like PbO2 cluster formed on the Pb surface.     

First-principles study of Ar adsorptions on the （111） surfaces of Pd, Pt, Cu, and Rh

In the present paper we give a detailed report on the results of our first-principles investigations of Ar adsorptions at the four high symmetry sites on M （111） （M =Pd, Pt, Cu, and Rh） surfaces. Our studies indicate that the most stable adsorption sites of Ar on Pd （111） and Pt （111） surfaces are found to be the fcc-hollow sites. However, for Ar adsorptions on Cu （111） and Rh （111） surfaces, the most favorable site is the on-top site. The density of states （DOS） is analyzed for Ar adsorption on M （111） surfaces, and it is concluded that the adsorption behavior is dominated by the interaction between 3s, 3p orbits of Ar atoms and the d orbit of the base metal atoms.     

First Principles Simulation of Molecular Oxygen Adsorption on SiC Nanotubes

We study the binding of molecular oxygen to a （5, 0） single walled SiC nanotube, by means of density functional calculations. The center of a hexagon of silicon and carbon atoms in sites on SiCNT surfaces is the most stable adsorption site for 02 molecule, with a binding energy of -38.22 eV and an average Si-O binding distance of 1.698 A. We have also tested the stability of the 02-adsorbed SiCNT/CNT with ab initio molecular dynamics simulation which have been carried out at room temperature. Furthermore, the adsorption of 02 on the single walled carbon nanotubes has been investigated. Our first-principles calculations predict that the 02 adsorptive capability of silicon carbide nanotubes is much better than that of carbon nanotubes. This might have potential for gas detection and energy storage.     

Coadsorption of gold with chlorine on CeO2 (111) surfaces: A first principles study

To investigate the effects of chlorine on the Au/ceria catalysts,the adsorption of gold or chlorine and their coadsorpiton on the stoichiometric and partially reduced CeO₂（111） surfaces are studied from the first principles.It is found that the adsorption of Au is significantly enhanced by the chlorine preadsorption on the stoichiometric CeO₂（111） surface;while on the partially reduced CeO₂（111） surface,the preadsorbed chlorine inhabits the oxygen vacancy（which is the preferred adsorption site for gold）,leading to a CeOCl phase and the dramatical weakening of the Au adsorption.Therefore,chlorine on the CeO₂（111） surface can affect the Au adsorption thus the activity of the Au/CeO₂ catalyst.     

A density-functional theory investigation on desorption of O2 on Sn（111） and its comparison with initial oxidation on the X（111） （X=Si,Ge, Sn,Pb） surfaces

<正>The first-principles calculations are performed to investigate the adsorption of O₂ molecules on an Sn（111） 2×2 surface.The chemisorbed adsorption precursor states for O₂ are identified to be along the parallel and vertical channels, and the surface reconstructions of Sn（lll） induced by oxygen adsorption are studied.Based on this,the adsorption behaviours of O₂ on X（111）（X=Si,Ge,Sn,Pb） surfaces are analysed,and the most stable adsorption channels of O₂ on X（111）（X=Si,Ge,Sn,Pb） are identified.The surface reconstructions and electron distributions along the most stable adsorption channels are discussed and compared.The results show that the O₂ adsorption ability declines gradually and the amount of charge transferred decreases with the enhancement of metallicity.     

Dissociations of O2 molecules on ultrathin Pb（111） films： first-principles plane wave calculations

Using first-principles calculations,we systematically study the dissociations of O₂ molecules on different ultrathin Pb（111） films.According to our previous work revealing the molecular adsorption precursor states for O₂,we further explore why there are two nearly degenerate adsorption states on Pb（111） ultrathin films,but no precursor adsorption states existing at all on Mg（0001） and Al（111） surfaces.The reason is concluded to be the different surface electronic structures.For the O₂ dissociation,we consider both the reaction channels from gas-like and molecularly adsorbed O₂ molecules.We find that the energy barrier for O₂ dissociation from the molecular adsorption precursor states is always smaller than that from O₂ gas.The most energetically favorable dissociation process is found to be the same on different Pb（111） films,and the energy barriers are found to be influenced by the quantum size effects of Pb（111） films.     

Structural Stabilities of Ordered Nb4 Clusters on the Cu（111） and Cu（100） Surfaces

Based on first-principles calculations, we show that very high-density periodic arrays of Nb4 clusters with both the tetrahedron and quadrangle configurations can be stably absorbed on the Cu（111） and Cu（100） surfaces, with the quadrangle configurations more stable than the tetrahedron ones. The strong covalent bonding between atoms within the Nb4 clusters contributes to the stability of Nb4 adsorptions on the Cu surfaces. The energy barriers for the tetrahedron to the quadrangle-Nb4 on Cu（111） and （100） are around 1.21 eV and 0.94 eV/cluster, respectively. The stable adsorption of high-density Nb4 on these surfaces should have important applications.     

STM study of selenium adsorption on Au(111) surface

Adsorption of chalcogen atoms on metal surfaces has attracted increasing interest for both the fundamental research and industrial applications. Here, we report a systematic study of selenium(Se) adsorption on Au(111) at varies substrate temperatures by scanning tunneling microscopy. At room temperature, small Se clusters are randomly dispersed on the surface. Increasing the temperature up to 200℃, a well-ordered lattice of Se molecules consisting of 8 Se atoms in ringlike structure is formed. Further increasing the temperature to 250℃ gives rise to the formation of Se monolayer with Au(111)-3~(1/2) ×3~(1/2) lattices superimposed with a quasi-hexagonal lattice. Desorption of Se atoms rather than the reaction between the Se atoms and the Au substrate occurs if further increasing the temperature. The ordered structures of selenium monolayers could serve as templates for self-assemblies and our findings in this work might provide insightful guild for the epitaxial growth of the two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides.     

Temperature dependence of Cu20 orientations in the oxidation of Cu （111）/ZnO （0001） by oxygen plasma

The role of temperature on the oxidation dynamics of Cu20 on ZnO （0001） was investigated during the oxidation of Cu （111）/ZnO （0001） by using oxygen plasma as the oxidant. A transition from single crystalline Cu20 （111） orientation to micro-zone phase separation with multiple orientations was revealed when the oxidation temperature increased above 300 ~ C. The experimental results clearly show the effect of the oxidation temperature with the assistance of oxygen plasma on changing the morphology of Cu （111） film and enhancing the lateral nucleation and migration abilities of cuprous oxides. A vertical top-down oxidation mode and a lateral migration model were proposed to explain the different nucleation and growth dynamics of the temperature-dependent oxidation process in the oxidation of Cu （lll）/ZnO （0001）.     

Surface Structure of Large Synthetic Diamonds by High Temperature and High Pressure

With NiMnCo and FeCoNi alloys as solvent metals, large single-crystal diamonds of about 3mm across are grown by temperature gradient method （TGM） under high temperature and high pressure （HPHT）. Although both {100} and {111} surfaces are developed by a layer growth mechanism, some different characteristic patterns are seen clearly on the different surfaces, no matter whether NiMnCo or FeCoNi alloys are taken as the solvent metals. For {100} surface, it seems to have been melted or etched greatly, no dendritic patterns to be found, and only a large number of growth hillocks are dispersed net-likely; while for {111} surface, it often seems to be more smooth-faced, no etched or melted traces are present even when a lot of depressed trigonal growth layers. This distinct difference between {111} and {100} surfaces is considered to be related to the difference of surface-atom distribution of different surfaces, and {111} surfaces should be more difficult to be etched and more steady than {100} surfaces.     

Dissociations of O2 molecules on ultrathin Pb(111) films: first-principles plane wave calculations

Using first-principles calculations, we systematically study the dissociations of O₂ molecules on different ultrathin Pb(111) films. According to our previous work revealing the molecular adsorption precursor states for O₂, we further explore why there are two nearly degenerate adsorption states on Pb(111) ultrathin films, but no precursor adsorption states existing at all on Mg(0001) and Al(111) surfaces. The reason is concluded to be the different surface electronic structures. For the O₂ dissociation, we consider both the reaction channels from gas-like and molecularly adsorbed O₂ molecules. We find that the energy barrier for O₂ dissociation from the molecular adsorption precursor states is always smaller than that from O₂ gas. The most energetically favorable dissociation process is found to be the same on different Pb(111) films, and the energy barriers are found to be influenced by the quantum size effects of Pb(111) films.     

Numerical Calculation of SAW Propagation Properties at the x-Cut of Ferroelectric PMN-33%PT Single Crystals

Surface acoustic wave （SAW） properties at the x-cut of relaxor-based 0.67Pb（Mg1/3Nb2/3）O3-0.33PbTiO3 （PMN- 33%PT） ferroelectric single crystals are analyzed theoretically when poled along the [001]c cubic direction. It can be found that PMN-33%PT single crystal is a kind of material with a low phase velocity and high electromechanical coupling coefficient, and the single crystal possesses some cuts with zero power flow angle. The results are based on the material parameters at room temperature. The conclusions provide device designers with a few ideal cuts of PMN-33%PT single crystals. Moreover, choosing an optimal cut will dramatically improve the performance of SAW devices, and corresponding results for crystal systems working at other temperatures could also be figured out by employing the method.     

Epitaxial Properties of Co-Doped ZnO Thin Films Grown by Plasma Assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy

High quality Co-doped ZnO thin films are grown on single crystalline Al2O3（0001） and ZnO（0001） substrates by oxygen plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy at a relatively lower substrate temperature of 450℃. The epitaxial conditions are examined with in-situ reflection high energy electron diffraction （RHEED） and ex-situ high resolution x-ray diffraction （HRXRD）. The epitaxial thin films are single crystal at film thickness smaller than 500nm and nominal concentration of Co dopant up to 20%. It is indicated that the Co cation is incorporated into the ZnO matrix as Co^2＋ substituting Zn^2＋ ions. Atomic force microscopy shows smooth surfaces with rms roughness of 1.9 nm. Room-temperature magnetization measurements reveal that the Co-doped ZnO thin films are ferromagnetic with Curie temperatures Tc above room temperature.     

Study of chemisorption on copper low-index and stepped surfaces

Adsorption of CHCl₃, O₂, and hydrocarbons has been studied on Cu(111) and stepped surfaces using LEED, AES, and UPS at room temperature. We find that ordered Cl overlayers form upon Cu(111), Cu[3(111) × (100)], and Cu[5(111) × (100)] surfaces upon exposure to CHCl₃. Exposure to O₂ results in rearrangement of the Cu[5(111) × (100)] surface to hill-and-valley regions with large (111) areas, whereas Cu[2(111) × (100)] is stable for the same exposure. The photoemission spectra show new energy levels due to C1 above and below the Cu d band region and a small splitting of the halogen p orbitals. Effects consistent with interaction with the Cu d band are observed. Similar effects are observed with oxygen adsorption. The initial rate of Cl or O₂ chemisorption as measured by photoemission is proportional to the density of steps on these surfaces. Apparently, structural effects play an important role in chemisorption on metals (such as copper) with low density of states at the Fermi energy.     

Interaction of O2 with low index faces of α-CuZn

The adsorption of O₂ and initial step of oxidation have been investigated, mainly at room temperature, for three different α-CuZn (75%Cu/25%Zn) surfaces ((110), (100) and (111)) by XPS. XAES, LEED, CPD and HREELS. No superstructures were detected on the LEED patterns during O₂ admission for the three faces, and from the beginning of adsorption Zn segregated to the surface. For (110), the interaction of oxygen follows the sequence: (1) dissociative chemisorption (up to ~ 20 L), accompanied by an increase of the work function and a single site occupancy as revealed by HREELS; (2) nucleation of ZnO only, indicated by a decrease of the work function, a shift of the Zn L₃M₄₅M₄₅ Auger transition and an emergence of a vibration at 550 cm^?1. corresponding to the surface phonon of ZnO. The (111) face follows the same scheme, except that the sticking coefficient for oxygen is very low. For (100), it is clear that two states of oxygen exist simultaneously, even at the beginning, as revealed by HREELS and CPD measurements. No copper oxides are ever detected, even after heat treatment. In addition, different bonding properties of OH groups on the three surfaces are reported.     

Vacuum Annealing Induced Room-Temperature Ferromagnetism in Co0.1Ti0.9O2-δ Films Prepared by Sol-Gel Method

The Co-doped TiO2 films （Co0.1Ti0.9O2-δ） are prepared on silicon substrates by sol-gel method and post annealing. TheCo0.1Ti0.9O2-δ film annealed in air is non-ferromagnetic at room temperature. After further annealed in a vacuum, the room-temperature ferromagnetism （RTFM） is observed. Experimental evidences show that the RTFM in the Co0.1Ti0.9O2-δ film may come from the Co-doped TiO2 matrix and is related to the oxygen vacancies created by vacuum annealing.     

Oxygen and carbon monoxide adsorption on W(111): An investigation with angular resolved ESD,AES and LEED

Oxygen and carbon monoxide adsorption on clean W(111) surfaces have been studied by angular resolved ESD emission (ESDIAD). In addition, the specimen could be characterized in situ with AES and LEED. Adsorption was performed at room temperature. The electron stimulated desorption yielded O⁺ ions from the two investigated adsorption layers. Upon oxygen adsorption followed by subsequent annealing at least eight different ESDIAD patterns have been obtained. However, a convincing interpretation on the basis of the surface geometry can only be presented for three patterns produced without annealing as well as for one pattern at a very high annealing temperature. The difficulties are a consequence of complex structure changes which the surface undergoes in the intermediate annealing temperature range. This may influence the little known neutralisation probability of the desorbing ions. In this special case ESDIAD probably reflects in contrast to LEED a picture of some specific adsorption sites (minority species) and therefore, no clear correlation of the two techniques can be seen. ESDIAD from carbon monoxide shows four different patterns and supports the model of linear bonded CO molecules at room temperature with oxygen in the “standing up” position. At T > 900 K, CO starts to dissociate and results in similar ESDIAD patterns as obtained from O₂ adsorption.     

The effect of argon bombardment on the oxidation of Fe(110) by oxygen and water

The oxidation of Fe(110) by O₂ and H₂O vapour has been studied by AES and LEED at room temperature in well ordered and in Ar bombarded surfaces. Ion irradiation causes in both cases an enhancement of the rate of oxidation. For O₂ adsorption, it has been found that ion bombardment increases the rate of surface oxide growth, whereas in the case of H₂O adsorption, the effect of the irradiation consists in facilitating the penetration of oxygen into the crystal bulk.     

KNN Based Lead-Free Piezoceramics with Improved Thermal Stability

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics （1 - x） （Na0.53K0.404 Li0.066）Nb0.92 Sb0.08 03 ＋xZrTiO3 are fabricated by conventional solid-state sintering method, and their dielectric and piezoelectric characteristics are investigated. With the addition of SrTiO3, the growth of the grain size is restrained, meanwhile the phase transition temperature of orthorhombic-tetragonal is shifted below room temperature. It is found that the ceramics with x = 0.010 exhibit excellent piezoelectric properties （d33 = 220 pC/N, kp = 41%, kt = 39%） and improved thermal stability around room temperature. The results indicate that these materials are promising lead-free piezoceramics for practical operations.