Oxygen adsorption characteristics on hybrid carbon and boron‐nitride nanotubes

In this work, first‐principles density functional theory (DFT) is used to predict oxygen adsorption on two types of hybrid carbon and boron‐nitride nanotubes (CBNNTs), zigzag (8,0), and armchair (6,6). Although the chemisorption of O₂ on CBNNT(6,6) is calculated to be a thermodynamically unfavorable process, the binding of O₂ on CBNNT(8,0) is found to be an exothermic process and can form both chemisorbed and physisorbed complexes. The CBNNT(8,0) has very different O₂ adsorption properties compared with pristine carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and boron‐nitride nanotube (BNNTs). For example, O₂ chemisorption is significantly enhanced on CBNNTs, and O₂ physisorption complexes also show stronger binding, as compared to pristine CNTs or BNNTs. Furthermore, it is found that the O₂ adsorption is able to increase the conductivity of CBNNTs. Overall, these properties suggest that the CBNNT hybrid nanotubes may be useful as a gas sensor or as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Density functional study of carbon monoxide adsorption on small cationic,neutral, and anionic aluminum nitride clusters

CO adsorption on small cationic, neutral, and anionic (AlN)_n (n = 1–6) clusters has been investigated using density functional theory in the generalized gradient approximation. Among various possible CO adsorption sites, an N on‐top (onefold coordinated) site is found to be the most favorable one, irrespective of the charge state of the clusters. The adsorption energies of CO on the anionic (AlN)_nCO (n = 2–4) clusters are greater than those on the neutral and cationic complexes. The adsorption energies on the cationic and neutral complexes reflect the odd–even oscillations, and the adsorption energies of CO on the cationic (AlN)_nCO (n = 5, 6) clusters are greater than those on the neutral and anionic complexes. The adsorption energies for the different charge states decrease with increasing cluster size. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

B20N20团簇的结构与稳定性

B3LYP/6-31G* density functional theory calculations have been carried out on the structure and stability of ten B20N20 clusters. It was found that two new proposed isomers with two octagons, twelve hexagons, eight squares in Cab and C2 symmetry were more stable than the isomer with sixteen hexagons and six squares in C2 symmetry which was previously deemed to the most stable by 79.5 and 13.8 kJ/mol respectively. The isomer with two decagons in S10 symmetry is much higher in energy than the most stable structure in C4h symmetry by 637.2 kJ/mol.     

Geometries, Electronic Structures, and Electron Detachment Energies of Small Boron Sulfide Anions： A Density Functional Theory Investigation

A density functional theory investigation on the geometries, electronic structures, and electron detachment energies of BS, BS2, B（BS）2 and B（BS）3 has been performed in this work. The linear ground-state structures of BS （C∞v, ^1∑^＋） and BS2^- （O∞h, ^1∑g^＋） prove to be similar to the previously reported BO and BO2 with systematically lower electron detachment energies. Small boron sulfide clusters are found to favor the formation of -B=S groups which function basically as a-radicals and dominate the ground-state structures of the systems. The perfect linear B（BS）2^-（D∞h, ^3∑g） and beautiful equilateral triangle B（BS）3^- （D3h,^2A1”） turn out to be analogous to the well-known C2v BH2 and O3h BH3, respectively. The electron affinities of BS, BS2, B（BS）2 and B（BS）3 are predicted to be 2.3, 3.69, 3.00 and 3.45 eV, respectively. The electron detachment energies calculated for BS^-, BS2^-, B（BS）2^-, and B（BS）3^- may facilitate future photoelectron spectroscopy measurements to characterize the geometrical and electronic structures of these anions.     

Study of H2O and HOCH2CH2OH Adsorption on the Relaxation Surface of β-Si3N4（0001） by Density Functional Theory

Density functional theory （DFT） B3LYP method is used to theoretically investigate the adsorption conformations of H2O and glycol on the relaxation surface of β-Si3N4（0001） with cluster models. For H2O, the most stable structure is that adsorbed through the H atom lying above a N（3） site of the relaxation surface of β-Si3N4（0001）; while for glycol, it is the one adsorbed via the H atom lying above the center of Si（2） and N（3） of the same relaxation surface. The adsorption energy, adsorption bond and transfer electrons of the two adsorbed substances prove that glycol is easy to be adsorbed on the relaxation surface of β-Si3N4（0001）.     

Dehydrogenation Mechanism of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers: Dodecahydro‐N‐ethylcarbazole on Pd(111)

Dodecahydro‐N‐ethylcarbazole (H₁₂‐NEC) has been proposed as a potential liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) for chemical energy storage, as it combines both favourable physicochemical and thermodynamic properties. The design of optimised dehydrogenation catalysts for LOHC technology requires a detailed understanding of the reaction pathways and the microkinetics. Here, we investigate the dehydrogenation mechanism of H₁₂‐NEC on Pd(111) by using a surface‐science approach under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. By combining infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy, density functional theory calculations and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface intermediates and their stability are identified. We show that H₁₂‐NEC adsorbs molecularly up to 173 K. Above this temperature (223 K), activation of C? H bonds is observed within the five‐membered ring. Rapid dehydrogenation occurs to octahydro‐N‐ethylcarbazole (H₈‐NEC), which is identified as a stable surface intermediate at 223 K. Above 273 K, further dehydrogenation of H₈‐NEC proceeds within the six‐membered rings. Starting from clean Pd(111), C? N bond scission, an undesired side reaction, is observed above 350 K. By complementing surface spectroscopy, we present a temperature‐programmed molecular beam experiment, which permits direct observation of dehydrogenation products in the gas phase during continuous dosing of the LOHC. We identify H₈‐NEC as the main product desorbing from Pd(111). The onset temperature for H₈‐NEC desorption is 330 K, the maximum reaction rate is reached around 550 K. The fact that preferential desorption of H₈‐NEC is observed even above the temperature threshold for H₈‐NEC dehydrogenation on the clean surface is attributed to the presence of surface dehydrogenation and decomposition products during continuous reactant exposure.     

氮化硼纳米管气敏特性的理论研究

采用密度泛函理论计算研究了氮化硼纳米管及碳掺杂氮化硼纳米管对CH4, CO2, H2, H2O, N2, NH3, NO2, O2, F2等十余种气体小分子的气敏特性. 研究结果表明: 氮化硼纳米管对CH4, CO2, H2, H2O, N2, NH3等气体分子不敏感, 而对O2, NO2, F2等气体分子比较敏感. 虽然碳掺杂氮化硼纳米管可以明显地改变其表面的化学反应活性, 增强了气体分子与氮化硼纳米管之间的相互作用, 但是并不能明显地改变其对所研究气体分子的敏感性.     

硅掺杂的氮化硼纳米管对氯化氰吸附性能的理论研究

为了探索氮化硼纳米管(BNNT)在化学传感器件领域的潜在应用,我们利用密度泛函理论研究了(8,0)单壁BNNT和硅掺杂的(8,0)BNNT对毒性气体氯化氰分子(ClCN)的吸附性能.结果表明,硼位或氮位硅掺杂的BNNT,均对ClCN分子存在较强的化学吸附,而纯氮化硼纳米管对ClCN仅有较弱的物理吸附.态密度的计算进一步表明硅掺杂使纳米管费米能级附近的电子结构发生显著变化,由于杂化态的引入,使带隙明显减小,增强了对毒性ClCN分子的吸附敏感性.硅掺杂的BNNT有望成为检测毒性ClCN分子的潜在资源.     

Ab initio study of molecular oxygen adsorption on Pu (111) surface

Using the generalized gradient approximation to density functional theory (DFT), molecular and dissociative oxygen adsorptions on a Pu (111) surface has been studied in detail. Dissociative adsorption with a layer‐by‐layer alternate spin arrangement of the plutonium layer is found to be energetically more favorable, and adsorption of oxygen does not change this feature. Hor1 (O₂ is parallel to the surface and lattice vectors) approach on the center2 (center of the unit cell, where there is a Pu atom directly below on the third layer) site, both without and with spin polarization, was found to be the preferred chemisorbed site among all cases studied with chemisorption energies of 8.365 and 7.897 eV, respectively. The second‐highest chemisorption energy occurs at the Ver (O₂ is vertical to the surface) approach of the bridge site with chemisorption energies of 8.294 eV (non‐spin‐polarized) and 7.859 eV (spin‐polarized), respectively. We find that 5f electrons are more localized in the spin‐polarized case than the non‐spin‐polarized counterparts. Localization of the 5f electrons is higher in the oxygen‐adsorbed plutonium layers compared with the bare layers. The ionic part of O? Pu bonding plays a significant role in the chemisorption process, along with Pu 5f? O 2p hybridization. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Dry Reforming of Methane on a Highly‐Active Ni‐CeO2 Catalyst: Effects of Metal‐Support Interactions on C−H Bond Breaking

Ni‐CeO₂ is a highly efficient, stable and non‐expensive catalyst for methane dry reforming at relative low temperatures (700 K). The active phase of the catalyst consists of small nanoparticles of nickel dispersed on partially reduced ceria. Experiments of ambient pressure XPS indicate that methane dissociates on Ni/CeO₂ at temperatures as low as 300 K, generating CH_x and CO_x species on the surface of the catalyst. Strong metal–support interactions activate Ni for the dissociation of methane. The results of density‐functional calculations show a drop in the effective barrier for methane activation from 0.9 eV on Ni(111) to only 0.15 eV on Ni/CeO_2?x(111). At 700 K, under methane dry reforming conditions, no signals for adsorbed CH_x or C species are detected in the C 1s XPS region. The reforming of methane proceeds in a clean and efficient way.     

Activation of Methane and Ethane as Mediated by the Triatomic Anion HNbN−: Electronic Structure Similarity with a Pt Atom

Investigations of the intrinsic properties of gas‐phase transition metal nitride (TMN) ions represent one approach to gain a fundamental understanding of the active sites of TMN catalysts, the activities and electronic structures of which are known to be comparable to those of noble metal catalysts. Herein, we investigate the structures and reactivities of the triatomic anions HNbN^? by means of mass spectrometry and photoelectron imaging spectroscopy, in conjunction with density functional theory calculations. The HNbN^? anions are capable of activating CH₄ and C₂H₆ through oxidative addition, exhibiting similar reactivities to free Pt atoms. The similar electronic structures of HNbN^? and Pt, especially the active orbitals, are responsible for this resemblance. Compared to the inert NbN^?, the coordination of the H atom in HNbN^? is indispensable. New insights into how to replace noble metals with TMNs may be derived from this combined experimental/computational study.     

CO2在Fe3O4(111)表面的吸附结构及能量研究

利用密度泛函理论研究了CO₂在Fe₃O₄（111）表面Fe_tet1和Fe_oct2两种终结的吸附行为。在Fe_tet1终结表面,当覆盖度为1/5 ML时,CO₂倾向于线性吸附;而在高覆盖度下,弯曲的CO₂与表面O作用形成CO₃^2-结构。在Fe_oct2终结表面,CO₂倾向于弯曲吸附,在1/6 ML和1/3 ML覆盖度时都可以形成CO₃^2-和-COO结构。覆盖度对Fe_tet1终结的表面影响很弱,但是对Fe_oct2终结的表面影响很大。从热力学上来说,CO₂在Fe_oct2终结表面的吸附要比Fe_tet1终结表面更有利。