Theoretical study of the properties of adsorbed oxygen complexes on a Si(100) surface

The results from quantum-chemical calculations of the properties of adsorbed oxygen complexes on a Si(100) surface are presented. Semi-empirical MNDO quantum-chemical modeling, implemented in the MOPAC software package, is used to model the physicochemical properties and estimate the energy parameters. The dependences of the total energy of the silicon cluster-oxygen system are calculated in dependence on the location of oxygen in the Si(100) surface layer, and the geometrical and electron characteristics of the equilibrium states of a cluster with adsorbed oxygen.     

The chiral effect of adsorption of univalent atoms and diatomic molecules on the surface of carbon nanotubes

Quantum-chemical semiempirical calculations were performed of the adsorption of fluorine and hydrogen atoms and molecules on the surface of single-layered carbon nanotubes with various diameters. Semiempirical quantum-chemical MNDO calculations were based on the model of a molecular cluster with boundary pseudoatoms. The energy characteristics of adsorption were determined. Changes in physical properties caused by the adsorption of atoms and diatomic molecules were analyzed.     

Internal investigation of saturation carbon nanotubes molecular hydrogen

The electron-energy characteristics of the saturation of the cavity of carbon nanotubes of armchair and zig-zag types with molecular hydrogen are theoretically studied. The calculations are performed based on a model of a molecular cluster with the use of the MNDO and PM3 methods, which proved to be effective in predicting the electronic structure of molecules and periodic solids. Two mechanism of saturation of the cavity of single-walled carbon tubulenes with hydrogen molecules were proposed and examined: (1) the mechanism of surface wetting and (2) the capillary mechanism of filling.     

Theoretical study of oxygen chemisorption on (111) and (100) silicon surfaces

The chemisorption of atomic oxygen on (111) and (100) silicon surfaces has been studied by the MNDO method using a cluster approach. The results show that, for both surfaces, chemisorption occurs preferentially on bridge positions, but chemisorption on top positions can play a significant role especially for the (111) surface.     

AB initio cluster calculations of the equilibrium distance and geometry of oxygen on the Fe{001} surface

We present the results of Spin Unrestricted Hartree-Fock cluster calculation of oxygen at the four-fold, bridge and head-on surface sites. The four-fold site is the lowest energy configuration, in agreement with a LEED structure analysis, and the equilibrium distance above the surface, 0.38 Å, is close to the LEED result, 0.48 Å. These results indicate that cluster calculations may be used to corraborate the LEED analysis and in some cases to predict independently the correct adsorption geometry.     

洁净和氧吸附的Cu(100)表面重构的理论研究

在密度泛函理论下,计算了清洁和吸附氧原子的Cu(100)表面的驰豫和优势吸附构型。结果表明,氧原子在金属表面采用四重穴位时,具有最大的结合能,顶位吸附时结合能最小,桥位吸附时结合能居间。这一计算结果与实验报道一致。各种密度泛函方法的比较后,发现采用mPW1PW91密度泛函和LanL2dz赝势基组,能够准确给出与实验相符的计算结果。平板模型计算的分态密度图显示,在吸附过程中出现d轨道向Fermi能级移动并越过Fermi能级,而O原子的p轨道能级远离Fermi能级,表明有电子从铜原子的d轨道转移到氧原子的2p轨道,簇模型和平板模型的布居分析显示表面氧带有约0.65～0.7 e的负电荷。研究表明,采用适当的基组和泛函方法,即使采用簇模型来模拟表面,也可以获得与实验比较吻合的计算结果。     

Relative energies of surface and defect states: ab initio calculations for the MgO (001) surface

We present the results of calculations of the energy levels of defects at the (001) surface of MgO relative to the top of the valence band and values of defect ionisation potentials and electron affinities. The calculations were made using an embedded cluster method in which a cluster of several tens of ions treated quantum mechanically is embedded in a finite array of polarisable and point ions modelling the crystalline potential and the classical polarisation of the host lattice. The calculated ionisation potential of the ideal surface, which fixes the position of the top of the valence band with respect to the vacuum level, is about 6.7 eV. This value is used as a reference for positioning the energy levels of three charge states of a surface anion vacancy, which are also calculated as ionisation energies with respect to the vacuum level. The surface and vacancy electron affinities are calculated using the same method. As a prototype low-coordinated surface site, we have considered a cube corner. Our calculations predict the splitting of the corner states from the top of the surface valence band by about 1.0 eV. Both unrelaxed and relaxed holes are strongly localised at the corner oxygen ion. The ionisation energies and electron affinities of the corner anion vacancy are calculated. The electrons in the F and F⁺ centres at the corner are shown to be significantly delocalised over surrounding Mg ions.     

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.     

On the chemisorption of water on the (100) surface of silicon

The chemisorption of water on the (100) surface of silicon has been studied by the MNDO method in the framework of the cluster approach. Molecular chemisorption occurs preferentially at bridge positions, whereas the dissociative process leads essentially to OH (at bridge position) and H (at on-top position) chemisorbed species. The dissociative chemisorption represents the best process from a thermodynamic point of view, but involves an activation energy. As a consequence molecular chemisorption could also be observed. The formation of dihydric phases has been also investigated but is energetically unfavourable.     

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.     

First-principles studies of the oxygen adsorption on unreconstructed and reconstructed Ni(1 1 0) surfaces

First-principles calculations have been performed to investigate the adsorption of oxygen on unreconstructed and reconstructed Ni(1 1 0) surfaces. The energetics, structural, electronic and magnetic properties are given in detail. For oxygen adsorption on unreconstructed surface, (n×1)(n=2,3) substrate with oxygen atom on short-bridge site is found to be the most stable adsorption configuration. Whereas energetically most favorable adsorption phase of reconstructed surface is p(n×1) substrate with oxygen atom located at long-bridge site. Our calculations suggest that the surface reconstruction is induced by the oxygen adsorption. We also find there are redistributions of electronic structure and electron transfer from the substrate to adsorbate. Our calculations also indicate surface magnetic moment is enhanced on clean surfaces and oxygen atoms are magnetized weakly after oxygen adsorption. Interestingly, adsorption on unreconstructed surface does not change surface magnetic moment. However, adsorbate leads to reduction of surface magnetic moment in reconstructed system remarkably.     

Predicting the metal growth mode and wetting of noble metals supported on c-ZrO2

Employing periodic density-functional calculations, we predict the metal growth mode for ideal and defective interfaces of noble metals (Pd and Pt) deposited on top of cubic-ZrO₂. We discuss various energetic contributions and surface textures. We propose that isolated noble metal atoms are supported on both steps and terraces on the surfaces. Pt, on the other hand, shows a higher probability to decorate steps and other low oxygen coordinated sites, while Pd forms larger metal aggregates on both high oxygen coordinated sites (terraces) as well as low oxygen coordinated sites (steps). Oxygen defects on the support act as nucleation sites for the metal cluster growth. We also investigate metal wetting of Pd and Pt on the {1 1 1} surface of cubic-zirconia. Our calculations predict that the wetting angles are ca. 110-130° for 1 and 2 mono-layers of Pd and Pt, respectively, suggesting that metal wetting decreases as the metal loading increases.     

Methanol decomposition on the β-Ga2O3 (1 0 0) surface: A DFT approach

Density functional theory (DFT) cluster model calculations on methanol reactions on the β-Ga₂O₃ (1 0 0) surface have been realized. β-Ga₂O₃ structure has tetrahedral and octahedral ions and the results of gallia-methanol interaction are different depending on the local surface chemical composition. The surface without oxygen vacancies is very reactive and produces the methanol molecule decomposition. The unsaturated surface oxygen atoms strongly oxidize the methanol molecule. CO₂ and H₂O molecules are produced when methanol reacts with a free oxygen vacancy surface on octahedral gallium sites. On the other hand, H₂CO is found after the reaction of this molecule with a free O vacancy surface on tetrahedral gallium sites. A weak interaction between the remaining CO₂ molecule and the oxide surface was found, being this molecule easy to desorb. Otherwise, H₂CO has a stronger surface bond and it could suffer a later oxidation.     

Au_7团簇吸附O_2和CO及其对CO的催化反应机理研究

本文采用密度泛函理论,研究了Au_7团簇催化CO的氧化反应机理.研究发现,二维平面结构的Au_7团簇更容易吸附CO和O_2分子. Au_7团簇吸附一个O_2分子的吸附能为0.64 eV,但在吸附多个O_2分子时,平均吸附能有了明显的下降,表明Au_7团簇进行多吸附O_2分子的可能性不大. Au_7团簇吸附一个CO分子的吸附能为1.26 eV,且在吸附多个CO分子时,平均吸附能虽有减少,但减小的幅度不大,说明Au_7团簇有可能吸附多个CO分子.此外,在Au_7团簇催化CO的氧化反应过程中,整个反应克服的最高势垒仅为0.34 eV,说明Au_7团簇有望成为良好的CO氧化催化剂.     

The combined use of SCF-MO calculations and frequency data in the evaluation of general harmonic force fields for molecules containing third row elements

The general harmonic force fields of several small molecules containing third row elements have been evaluated using a semiempirical method which combines SCF-MO calculations and limited frequency data. MOCIC (molecular orbital constraint using interaction coordinates) potential fields have been generated using the SCF-MO MNDO method which has recently been parameterized for third row elements. The general harmonic force field (GHFF) of molecules studied here (SO₂, NOCl, PF₃, PH₃, CCl₄, SiCl₄, SiF₄, SiH₄, and SF₆) are all well defined from spectroscopic data. The MOCIC functions are in excellent agreement with the spectroscopic GHFFs. Comparisons of the MNDO and MOCIC functions show substantial improvement in both primary and interaction valence potential constants when the MOCIC constraint procedure is used.     

Self-assembly of Mo<Subscript> 6</Subscript>S<Subscript> 8</Subscript> clusters on the Au(111) surface

The preferred adsorption sites and the propensity for a self-organised growth of the molybdenum sulfide cluster Mo₆S₈ on the Au(111) surface are investigated by density-functional band-structure calculations with pseudopotentials and a plane wave basis set. The quasi-cubic cluster preferentially adsorbs via a face and remains structurally intact. It experiences a strong, mostly non-ionic attraction to the surface at several quasi-isoenergetic adsorption positions. A scan of the potential energy surface exhibits only small barriers between adjacent strong adsorption sites. Hence, the cluster may move in a potential well with degenerate local energy minima at room temperature. The analysis of the electronic structure reveals a negligible electron transfer and S-Au hybridised states, which indicate that the cluster-surface interaction is dominated by S-Au bonds, with minor contributions from the Mo atom in the surface vicinity. All results indicate that Mo₆S₈ clusters on the Au(111) surface can undergo a template-mediated self-assembly to an ordered inorganic monolayer, which is still redox active and may be employed as surface-active agent in the integration of noble metal and ionic or biological components within nano-devices. Therefore, a classical potential model was developed on the basis of the DFT data, which allows to study larger cluster assemblies on the Au(111).     

Atom-by-atom extraction using the scanning tunneling microscope tip-cluster interaction

We investigate the atomistic details of a single atom-extraction process realized by using the scanning tunneling microscope tip-cluster interaction on a Ag(111) surface at 6 K. Single atoms are extracted from a silver cluster one atom at a time using small tunneling biases less than 35 mV. Combined total energy calculations and molecular dynamics simulations show a lowering of the atom-extraction barrier upon approaching the tip to the cluster. Thus, a mere tuning of the proximity between the tip and the cluster governs the extraction process. The atomic precision and reproducibility of this procedure are demonstrated by repeatedly extracting single atoms from a silver cluster on an atom-by-atom basis.     

Cluster model approach for electronic structure of Si and Ge(111) and GaAs(110) surfaces

For the purpose of exploring how realistic a cluster model can be for semiconductor surfaces, extended Huckel theory calculations are performed on clusters modeling Si and Ge(111) and GaAs(110) surfaces as prototypes. Boundary conditions of the clusters are devised to be reduced. The ideal, relaxed, and reconstructed Si and Ge(111) surfaces are dealt with. Hydrogen chemisorbed (111) clusters of Si and Ge are also investigated as prototypes of chemisorption systems. Some comparison of the results with finite slab calculations and experiments is presented. The cluster-size dependence of the calculated energy levels, local densities of states, and charge distributions is examined for Si and Ge(111) clusters. It is found that a 45-atom cluster which has seven layers along the [111] direction is large enough to identify basic surface states and study the hydrogen chemisorption on Si and Ge(111) surfaces. Also, it is presented that surface states on the clean Si and Ge(111) clusters exist independent of relaxation. Further, the calculation for the relaxed GaAs(110) cluster gives the empty and filled dangling-orbital surface states comparable to experimental data and results of finite slab calculations. The cluster approach is concluded to be a highly useful and economical one for semiconductor surface problems.     

Ab initio calculation of correlation effects for the O 1s core electron binding energy in MgO

Wavefunction based ab initio embedded cluster calculations are employed to calculate the O 1s core electron binding energies (CEBEs) of bulk MgO and the MgO(001) surface. A quantum cluster consisting of 61 atoms in five layers and embedded in a large point charge field is used for bulk MgO, the cluster for the MgO(001) surface is chosen accordingly. The O 1s CEBEs are calculated at the Koopmans' theorem (KT) and ΔSCF levels and with inclusion of correlation effects by means of the MC-CEPA method (multi-configuration coupled electron pair approximation), which is an approximate multi-reference coupled cluster approach. The correlation contributions to the O 1s CEBE of the central O atom due to the Mg atoms in the first and the O atoms in the second coordination shell turned out to be additive to a large extent. Therefore, they could be evaluated in an incremental fashion by a series of smaller calculations, where only a few atoms are included in the correlation treatment rather than all atoms of the first coordination shells or of the full quantum cluster. This makes the calculations feasible, even if large basis sets are used. The final results for the O 1s CEBEs are 533.47 and 533.50 eV for bulk MgO and the MgO(001) surface, to which electron correlation contributes 0.77 and 0.70 eV, respectively.     

Oxygen vacancies and peroxo groups on regular and low-coordinated sites of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO surfaces

The formation of an oxygen vacancy and the simultaneous re-adsorption of an oxygen atom on regular and low-coordinated (LC) sites (edges and corners) of the surface of alkaline-earth oxides with cubic rock salt structure, MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO, has been investigated using DFT cluster model calculations. The process corresponds to the formation of a surface Frenkel defect when the vacancy formation energy is partially compensated by the energy gained in the formation of a peroxo group. The structural and electronic properties of vacancies and peroxo groups along the series of alkaline-earth oxides have been analyzed. We found that the role of low-coordinated sites on the surface chemistry of alkaline-earth oxides is of crucial importance for MgO, but decreases for the heavier members. For instance, on BaO the formation of a peroxo group is practically site-insensitive. This is not the case of the vacancy formation, which is always favored on the low-coordinated sites.