Oxygen adsorption and surface segregation in (2 1 1) surfaces of Pt(shell)/M(core) and Pt3M (M = Co,Ir) alloys

Density functional theory is used to study oxygen adsorption and its effect on surface segregation in (2 1 1) surfaces of Pt(shell)/M(core) and Pt₃M (M = Co, Ir) alloys. It is found that the most energetically favorable oxygen adsorption site is the bridge site over and parallel to the (1 0 0) step. Surface segregation phenomena is observed in Pt₃Co, Pt₃Ir and Pt/Co(core) systems. The Pt/Ir(core) structure was the only one, among the studied systems, that showed antisegregation behavior even in presence of oxygen adsorbed.     

CO adsorption on clean and oxidized Pt3Ti(111)

CO adsorption on clean and oxidized Pt₃Ti(111) surfaces has been investigated by means of Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES), Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy (TDS), Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) and High Resolution Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (HREELS). On clean Pt₃Ti(111) the LEED patterns after CO adsorption exhibit either a diffuse or a sharp c(4 × 2) structure (stable up to 300 K) depending on the adsorption temperature. Remarkably, the adsorption/desorption behavior of CO on clean Pt₃Ti(111) is similar to that on Pt(111) except that partial CO decomposition on Ti sites and partial CO oxidation have also been evidenced. Therefore, the clean surface cannot be terminated by a pure Pt plane. Partially oxidized Pt₃Ti(111) surfaces (< 135 L O₂ exposure at 1000 K) exhibit a CO adsorption/desorption behavior rather similar to that of the clean surface, showing again a c(4 × 2) structure (stable up to 250 K). Only the oxidation of CO is not detectable any more. These results indicate that some areas of the substrate remain non-oxidized upon low oxygen exposures. Heavily oxidized Pt₃Ti(111) surfaces (> 220 L O₂ exposure at 1000 K) allow no CO adsorption indicating that the titanium oxide film prepared under these conditions is completely closed.     

Stoichiometry and surface reconstruction of epitaxial CuInSe2(112) films

CuInSe₂(112) films were grown on GaAs(111)A substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. The resulting surface stoichiometry was deduced by consideration of results from various surface analytic techniques. The obtainable Cu/In stoichiometry range in XPS was 0.4–1.2, where 1.2 marks the onset of Cu_2 ? xSe phase segregation at the surface and 0.4 corresponds to the copper-depleted surface with ordered defect compound (ODC) composition. For the stoichiometric CuInSe₂(112) surface, a c(4 × 2) reconstruction of the zinc blende surface periodicity is observed in the LEED pattern, with three rotational domains present on the flat GaAs(111) substrate. With the use of stepped (111) substrates, domain formation could be suppressed. By comparison of the LEED data and concentration depth profiles from angle-resolved XPS, two types of surface reconstructions could be distinguished. According to surface energy calculations in the literature, these correspond to surfaces stabilized by either Cu_In or 2V_Cu defects. The surface of copper-poor CuIn₃Se₅ shows no reconstruction of the zinc blende order.     

Adsorption and interaction energy of π ethene on Pt(1 1 1) and Pt alloys: A detailed analysis of vibrational,energetic and electronic properties

We present a detailed analysis of the electronic and geometric bonding properties of the model alkene ethene on different mono- and bimetallic surfaces to establish the difference between adsorption energy and interaction energy and to elucidate the chemical character of a single platinum atom in different chemical environments. The adsorption of ethene on Pt(1 1 1) at 100 K leads to two adsorption states, which are commonly described as being of di-σ-type (bidentate, μ₂η²) and π-type (monodentate, μ₁η²). While the later is the minority species on Pt(1 1 1) it is of larger abundance on the platinum alloys. We have chosen π-bonded ethene for our study since it can be found on Pt(1 1 1), the Pt₃Sn and Pt₂Sn surface alloys, and Cu₃Pt(1 1 1). Density functional theory calculations of the adsorption structures, site and decomposed densities of states, as well as partial charge densities in conjunction with vibrational spectroscopy show that the bonding, i.e. the interaction energy, of the π ethene is only weakly influenced by alloying. Even in a copper matrix – as in the case of Cu₃Pt(1 1 1) – the bonding platinum atom essentially keeps its chemical identity and the interaction energy is reduced by only 14% compared to Pt(1 1 1). This observation suggests that bonding on surfaces is a strongly localized phenomenon. However, the adsorption energy decreases significantly due to alloying, which is attributed to the varying local relaxation of the different metal surfaces.     

STM observation of the origin of electrochemical promotion on metal catalyst-electrodes interfaced with YSZ and β″-Al2O3

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was used to investigate the surfaces of Pt(111) single crystals interfaced with YSZ and β″-Al₂O₃ at atmospheric pressure. In both cases the STM imaged the reversible electrochemically controlled dosing (backspillover) of O²⁻ species and of Na⁺ species on Pt(111) surface respectively, which both form a (12 × 12) hexagonal structure on the Pt(111) surface. On the mechanistic side, the STM has confirmed the backspillover mechanism of electrochemical promotion and metal support interactions.     

Growth mode of Pt1−xNix films biased dc-sputter-deposited on MgO(0 0 1)

A study is made by TEM, XRD and by measuring electrical/magnetic properties, of growth mode and properties of Pt_1−xNi_x alloy films deposited on MgO(0 0 1) at 250°C by dc-sputtering at 2.5–2.7 kV in Ar. A bias voltage V_s≤−160 V was applied to the substrate during deposition. It was confirmed that the Pt film was polycrystalline with the texture of Pt(1 1 1)/MgO(0 0 1) while the films of Pt_0.14Ni_0.86 and Pt_0.19Ni_0.81 were epitaxially grown with Pt–Ni(0 0 1)[1 0 0]/MgO(0 0 1)[1 0 0] similarly to the case of Ni/MgO(0 0 1). Thus the growth mode transformation between Pt–Ni(1 1 1)/MgO(0 0 1) and Pt–Ni(0 0 1)/MgO(0 0 1) may be induced at x less than 0.81 for Pt_1−xNi_x alloy films. The temperature coefficient of resistance TCR from 100 to 300 K of Pt_0.14Ni_0.86 films was estimated to be 0.0044–0.0053 K⁻¹ and saturation magnetization at 300 K to be 1.7–3.2 kG, respectively, while TCR of Pt films was estimated to be 0.0035–0.0048 K⁻¹.     

Evidence for the interfacial reaction between Ni adatoms and H-Si(001) surface

Hydrogen termination of Si surfaces (H-Si) does not stop the interfacial reaction between Ni adatoms and H-Si(001) surface at room temperature. At low Ni coverage of 0.1% (equivalent to 0.02 ML), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals a binding energy shift of Ni 2p_3/2 to 854.0 eV, which corresponds to the formation a NiSi-like environment. As the coverage of Ni increases, the Ni 2p_3/2 eventually shifts to 852.8 eV, indicative of formation of metallic Ni. XPS intensity vs Ni coverage analysis reveals a growth process akin to pseudo-layer-by-layer growth mode, thereby suggesting the formation of bulk-Si(001)/NiSi-like/Ni-rich-silicide-like/metallic Ni structure as growth proceeds. For Ni coverage not more that 33% (equivalent to 12.68 ML), Ni remains protected by the silicide environment and no oxidation of Ni to form Ni-oxides was observed even after exposing the samples to air for 400 days. For samples with Ni coverage above 41%, oxidation of Ni is observed by presence of NiO and NiSiO₃ peaks at 854.5 and 857.0 eV, respectively. The current studies suggest that there is reaction between Ni adatoms and Si at the growth front on H-Si(001) surfaces upon Ni deposition at room temperature and hydrogen termination does not suppress the interface reaction between Ni and Si.     

Structural dependence of intermediate species for the hydrogen evolution reaction on single crystal electrodes of Pt

Adsorbed hydrogen and water were measured during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on the low and high index planes of Pt in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy. Hydrogen is adsorbed at the atop site (atop H) on Pt(110) during the HER, whereas adsorbed hydrogen at the asymmetric bridge site (bridge H) is found on Pt(100). The band intensity of the adsorbed hydrogen depends on temperature, indicating that the bands are due to the intermediate species for the HER. The band of the atop H appears on stepped surfaces with (110) step, whereas the asymmetric bridge H is observed on Pt(211) = 3(111)–(100) and Pt(311) = 2(111)–(100) that have (100) step. The absence of the atop H on Pt(100), Pt(211), and Pt(311) can be attributed to the relative stability of the bridge site.     

Structural and electronic properties of cobalt carbide Co2C and its surface stability: Density functional theory study

Density functional theory calculations have been performed to investigate the structural and electronic properties of bulk Co₂C and the stability of low index Co₂C surfaces. We found that the formation of Co₂C is exothermic with the formation energy of ? 0.81 eV/Co₂C with respect to Co under the presence of syngas (mixture of CO and H₂). While formed Co₂C can be decomposed further to metal Co and graphite carbon with modest energy gain of 0.37 eV/Co₂C. This suggests that Co₂C is only metastable in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, which agrees well with experimental findings. The density of states (DOSs) reveals that the Co₂C is paramagnetic and strong metallic-like. The difference of charge density analysis indicates that the bond of Co₂C is of the mixtures of metallic, covalent, and ionic properties. A variety of low index Co₂C surfaces with different terminations are studied. We find that the surface energy of low index stoichiometric Co₂C highly relies on the surface area, the number of coordination of surface atoms and the surface dipole, with the decreased stability order of (101) > (011) > (010) > (110) > (100) > (001) = (111). Our results indicate that under Co-poor condition, the formation of non ? stoichiometric surface (011) and (111) without terminated cobalt is energetically more favorable, while under Co-rich condition the formation of non ? stoichiometric (111) surface with cobalt overlayer are preferential.     

Superconductivity of the platinum doped 122 iron arsenide SrFe2−xPtxAs2

Pt doped 122 iron arsenide SrFe_1?xPt_xAs₂ (0 ? x ? 0.4) was successfully synthesized. The tetragonal unit-cell volume and the lattice constant a increase with increasing the Pt content, while c decreases, suggesting that the Fe ions are indeed replaced by Pt ions. By the Pt doping, the magnetic order of the parent phase is suppressed, and superconductivity emerges at approximately x = 0.15. T_c reaches the maximum of 16 K at x = 0.2. The compounds series can be a suitable subject to investigate role of the doped 5d state in the superconducting 3d Fe–As layer.     

Fe3O4 surface electronic structures and stability from GGA + U

The electronic structures, stabilities and magnetic properties of the Fe₃O₄(111), (110) and (001) surfaces have been computed at the level of density functional theory by including the Hubbard parameter (U) for describing the on-site Coulomb interaction of iron 3d electrons. Among the six Fe₃O₄(111) terminations, the Fe_tet1 (exposing tetrahedral coordinated iron) and Fe_oct2 (exposing octahedral coordinated iron) terminations are more stable and have metallic character. For the Fe₃O₄(110) surface, strong surface distortion has been found; the A-layer termination (exposing tetrahedral coordinated iron) has metallic character, while the B-layer termination (exposing tetrahedral and octahedral coordinated iron) has half-metal character. For the Fe₃O₄(001) surface, both A-layer (exposing tetrahedral coordinated iron) and B-layer (exposing octahedral coordinated iron) terminations have half-metal character. The surface stability of (111) > (001) > (110) on the basis of the computed surface energies agrees well with the experimental findings, and explains reasonably the observed diversity and complexity of the experiments.     

Investigation of the doped transition metal promotion effect on CO2 chemisorption on Ni (1 1 1)

The chemisorption of CO₂ on the pure Ni (1 1 1) and doped Ni (1 1 1) by transition metal (Co, Rh, Cr, Ce, La) were investigated by using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and the Perdew–Burke–Emzerhof (PBE) functional. The optimized structure of doped metal surface showed that Rh, Cr, Ce, La atoms upward shift from the surface of Ni (1 1 1) plane, while the atom radius of Co is the minimum offset which lead to the height is ?0.03 Å. The ability of CO₂ chemisorption follows the order of La/Ni (1 1 1) > Ce/Ni (1 1 1) > Cr/Ni (1 1 1) > Co/Ni (1 1 1) > pure Ni (1 1 1). It is exothermic when CO₂ chemisorbed on Cr/Ni (1 1 1) Ce/Ni (1 1 1) and La/Ni (1 1 1), while it is endothermic on the Co/Ni (1 1 1) and pure Ni (1 1 1). CO₂ molecular chemisorbed on all the metal surfaces are negatively charged, result from the electron transfer between the metal surfaces and the CO₂ molecular. The transition metals La, Ce and Cr can promote the transformation of electron and make the CO bonds longer than the pure Ni (1 1 1). We also analyzed the dissociation of CO₂ on the Ni-based surface and found that the La/Ni (1 1 1) surface is the preference surface for the dissociation of CO₂, which improved the ability to hinder carbon deposition.     

Interface characterization of a [Pt/Co)]3/IrMn multilayer by laser-assisted tomographic atom probe

A sputtered Ta_3 nm/[[Pt_2 nm/Co_0.4 nm)]₃/IrMn_7 nm]₇/Pt_10 nm multilayer has been analyzed by laser-assisted tomographic atom probe, allowing to perform three-dimensional reconstructions of the layers and to determine their chemical composition at the atomic scale. From the concentration profiles, we show that the Co layer in contact with IrMn is strongly mixed. The Co/IrMn and IrMn/Pt interfaces are thus non-symmetric, the Co/IrMn interface being more diffuse than the IrMn/Pt one. This study demonstrates that the LATAP technique is extremely well suited for atomic scale structural and chemical characterizations of magnetic multilayers in relationship with their magnetic properties.     

DFT study of self-coupling reaction of CF2(ads) coadsorbed on Cu(111) surface for forming CF2=CF2(g)

Total energy calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) with ultrasoft pseudopotential, generalized gradient spin-polarized approximation and the partial structural constraint path minimization (PSCPM) method were carried out to establish the energetically more favorable reaction pathways for the self-coupling reaction of coadsorbed CF_2(ads) leading to the formation of CF₂=CF_2(ads) on the Cu(111) surface. In addition, the calculated electronic properties, namely partial density of states (PDOS), suggest that the initial breaking of the Cu(111)–CF_2(ads) bond associating with the electron delocalization on the Cu(111) surface and the electron transfer from Cu(111) to both units of CF_2(ads) are factors controlling the energy barrier for self-coupling reaction. Finally, the calculated energy barrier (0.310 eV) for the self-coupling reaction of CF_2(ads) coadsorbed on the Cu(111) surface in comparison with that (0.204 eV) for the single α-fluoride elimination of adsorbed CF_3(ads) on the Cu(111) surface qualitatively manifests that the formation of CF₂ = CF_2(g) at 250 K is limited by the self-coupling reaction of coadsorbed CF_2(ads) instead of the single α-fluoride elimination of adsorbed CF_3(ads).     

Graphene on ordered Ni-alloy surfaces formed by metal (Sn,Al) intercalation between graphene/Ni(111)

Deposition and intercalation of Al and Sn on Ni(111) supported graphene is investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, and scanning tunneling microscopy. Al intercalates at ~ 200 °C while Sn intercalates at ~ 350 °C, indicating that the intercalation process is element specific. Both Al and Sn alloy with the Ni-substrate at higher annealing temperatures and form ordered alloy surfaces and surface alloys, respectively. Sn forms a (√3 × √3) R30° surface alloy by substituting surface Ni-atoms with Sn and thus the alloy maintains the same good lattice match with graphene as for Ni(111). Both Sn and Al are interacting weakly with graphene and can therefore be used to decouple graphene from the strongly interacting Ni substrate.     

杂质对吸附系统O/RhxPt1-x衬底合金(110)表面偏析的影响

构造了考虑吸附与偏析相互作用情况下无序二元合金Rh_xPt_1-x(110)吸附氧表面的原子集团模型,其中O的覆盖度为0.5;构造了考虑杂质Ni,Cu,W对合金可能产生影响的吸附表面原子集团模型,杂质的掺入采用替位式.应用recursion方法计算了合金表面的环境敏感镶嵌能和电子结构.环境敏感镶嵌能计算表明杂质Ni,Ｃu和Ｗ均使O吸附Rh_xPt_1-x(110)合金表面 关键词： 化学吸附 表面偏析 recursion方法 态密度     

Ultrathin Y2O3(111) films on Pt(111) substrates

The growth of ultrathin films of Y₂O₃(111) on Pt(111) has been studied using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). The films were grown by physical vapor deposition of yttrium in a 10^? 6 Torr oxygen atmosphere. Continuous Y₂O₃(111) films were obtained by post-growth annealing at 700 °C. LEED and STM indicate an ordered film with a bulk-truncated Y₂O₃(111)–1 × 1 structure exposed. Furthermore, despite the lattices of the substrate and the oxide film being incommensurate, the two lattices exhibit a strict in-plane orientation relationship with the [11?0] directions of the two cubic lattices aligning parallel to each other. XPS measurements suggest hydroxyls to be easily formed at the Y₂O₃ surface at room temperature even under ultra high vacuum conditions. The hydrogen desorbs from the yttria surface above ~ 200 °C.     

Analysis of the interactions between He+ ions and transition metal surfaces using co-axial impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy

The interactions between low energy He⁺ ions and a series of transition metal surfaces have been studied using co-axial impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy (CAICISS). Experimental data were collected from the Ni(110), Cu(100), Pd(111), Pt(111) and Au(111) surfaces using ion beams with primary energies between 1.5 keV and 4.0 keV. The shadow cone radii deduced from the experimental surface peak positions were found to closely match theoretical predictions. Data analysis was performed using both the FAN and Kalypso simulation codes, revealing a consistent requirement for a reduction of 0.252 in the screening length correction in the Molière approximation within the Thomas–Fermi (TFM) interaction potential. The adjustments of the screening length in the TFM potential, predicted by O'Connor, and the uncorrected Ziegler–Biersack–Littmark (ZBL) potential both yielded inaccurate results for all of the surfaces and incident energies studied. We also provide evidence that, despite their different computational methodologies, the FAN and Kalypso simulation codes generate similar results given identical input parameters for the analysis of 180° backscattering spectra.     

Ab initio study of Yb on the Ge(111)–(3 × 2) and Si(111)–(3 × 2) surfaces

The surface reconstruction, 3 × 2, induced by Yb adsorption on a Ge (Si)(111) surface has been studied using first principles density-functional calculation within the generalized gradient approximation. The two different possible adsorption sites have been considered: (i) H₃ (this site is directly above a fourth-layer Ge (Si) atom) and (ii) T₄ (directly above a second-layer Ge (Si) atom). We have found that the total energies corresponding to these binding sites are nearly the same, indeed for the Yb/Ge (Si)(111)–(3 × 2) structure the T₄ model is slightly energetic by about 0.01 (0.08) eV/unitcell compared with the H₃ model. In particular for the Ge sublayer, the energy difference is small, and therefore it is possible that the T₄, H₃, or T₄H₃ (half of the adatoms occupy the T₄ adsorption site and the rest of the adatoms are located at the H₃ site) binding sites can coexist with REM/Ge(111)–(3 × 2). In contrast to the proposed model, we have not determined any buckling in the Ge = Ge double bond. The electronic band structures of the surfaces and the corresponding natures of their orbitals have also been calculated. Our results for both substrates are seen to be in agreement with the recent experimental data, especially that of the Yb/Si(111)–(3 × 2) surface.     

Effect of impurities on the surface morphology of Fe(111)

The surface composition and morphology of Fe(111) have been examined through a combined analysis that includes low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The preferential segregation of sulfur has been clearly identified by AES upon annealing. The STM images exhibit numerous triangular pits of various sizes, and the LEED patterns show diffused n × 1 spots. The triangular pits reveal a Sierpinski gasket fractal. For sulfur-free Fe(111), nitrogen segregates to the surface upon annealing, forming a 4√3 × 4√3 superstructure that is identified by LEED patterns and STM images. The STM images show nanoscale triangular clusters regularly aligned in a hexagonal 4√3 × 4√3 configuration. Ultra-thin chromium film deposited on a nitrogen-segregated Fe(111) surface with post-annealing induces further nitrogen segregation, resulting in the formation of triangular pyramid-shaped CrN nanoclusters.