A Raman vibrational study of water adsorption on silver

Silver films, which have been exposed to 10 L of water under UHV conditions, display weak, surface enhanced Raman lines. The observed SER spectra compare favourably to vibrational spectra of amorphous ice I_v.     

Theoretical study of small Mo clusters and molecular nitrogen adsorption on Mo clusters

This paper studies the small molybdenum clusters of Mo_n (n=2--8) and their adsorption of N₂ molecule by using the density functional theory (DFT) with the generalized gradient approximation. The optimized structures of Mo_n clusters show the onset of a structural transition from a close-packed structure towards a body-centred cubic structure occurred at n=7. An analysis of adsorption energies suggests that the Mo₂ is of high inertness and Mo₆ cluster is of high activity against the adsorption of N₂. Calculated results indicate that the N₂ molecule prefers end-on mode by forming a linear or quasi-linear structure Mo--N--N, and the adsorption of nitrogen on molybdenum clusters is molecular adsorption with slightly elongated N--N bond. The electron density of highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, and the partial density of states of representative cluster are also used to characterize the adsorption properties of N₂ on the sized Mo_n clusters.     

Interaction of chloride ions with water clusters absorbing ozone: A computer experiment

The molecular dynamics method is used to investigate the interaction of two, four, and six chloride ions with (H₂O)₅₀, clusters absorbing six ozone molecules. Chloride ions moving toward the cluster penetrate into it. The presence of ozone increases the residence time of Cl⁻ ions in the cluster. The duration of the perturbation increases with the number of Cl⁻ ions surrounding the 6O₃ + (H₂O)₅₀ system. The interaction with Cl⁻ ions enhances the positional disorder of the molecules in the system and enhances the intensity of absorption and emission of infrared radiation. These changes, however, are not monotonic function of the number of ions perturbing the system. As a result of the interaction with Cl⁻ ions, the integrated intensity of the Raman scattering on the (O₃)₆(H₂O)₅₀ cluster in the frequency range 0 ≤ ω ≤ 1100 cm⁻¹ is significantly lower and the number of peaks in the spectrum is smaller.     

A computer simulation study of the ground-state configurations of Fe and Fe-Al clusters

Using the noncentral embedded atom model potential recently proposed by Besson and Morillo for bulk alloys (), we performed computer simulations to predict the ground-state configurations of and clusters (). The computed structures of clusters are in general agreement with such theoretical results as have been obtained by density functional calculations (i.e. for ). The results for Fe-rich clusters show surface segregation of Al, which is in keeping with the findings of a previous study of clusters. Received 29 April 1999     

The adsorption of CO on transition metal clusters: A case study of cluster surface chemistry

We present a discussion of recent experimental studies on the interaction of single CO molecules with transition metal clusters in the gas-phase, typically in the size range of 3 to more than 20 atoms, emphasizing specifically the insights gained from vibrational spectroscopy. Trends across the transition metals (TM) for molecular vs. dissociative chemisorption as well as for adsorption geometries are discussed and compared with the behaviour of CO adsorbed on extended surfaces. The dependence of the frequency of the internal CO stretch vibration on the size and charge of the cluster enables one to gauge quantitatively the effects of charge transfer between deposited nanoparticles and the substrate as well as of electron transfer due to the binding of co-adsorbed species.     

CO adsorption on neutral iridium clusters

The adsorption of carbon monoxide on neutral iridium clusters in the size range of n = 3 to 21 atoms is investigated with infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy. For each cluster size only a single ν(CO) band is present with frequencies in the range between 1962 cm^-1 (n = 8) and 1985 cm^-1 (n = 18) which can be attributed to an atop binding geometry. This behaviour is compared to the CO binding geometries on clusters of other group 9 and 10 transition metals as well as to that on extended surfaces. The preference of Ir for atop binding is rationalised by relativistic effects on the electronic structure of the later 5d metals.     

Fragmentation of water clusters: Molecular-dynamics simulation study

The fragmentation of water clusters, [(H ₂ O)_n;n = 2-8], have been investigated by using molecular-dynamics simulation method. In the simulations a polarizable-dissociable potential energy function for water has been used. Particular attention has bee paid to investigate the effect of structural properties and cluster size on the fragmentation. Received 27 April 2000 and Received in final form 6 October 2000     

A study of water vapour adsorption on the (110) surface of copper

The adsorption of water vapour on the (110)Cu face has been studied by AES and Δφ measurements in the 5 × 10^?9 to 3 × 10^?7 Torr range between 75 and 500°C. At lower temperatures, an initial physisorption of oriented water dipoles produces a fast initial Δφ decrease. Further adsorption causes no important changes of the Cu surface potential. At higher temperatures (above 100°C) a partial dissociation of the water molecules leads to a dissociative chemisorption producing a Δφ increase after the initial Δφ decrease due to water physisorption.     

(TiO2)n(n=3-6)团簇吸附水分子的理论研究

给出了优化小分子在团簇表面吸附结构的遗传算法.结合经验势函数,搜寻了水分子在(TiO2)n(n=3-6)团簇上可能的吸附方式;利用B3LYP/6-31G**方法对各种吸附结构进行了优化.结果表明水分子主要通过O原子以非解离方式吸附到团簇中配位数较低或位置比较凸出的Ti原子上.分子轨道分析表明,水分子与团簇之间的成键主要来自吸附位Ti原子3s3p轨道的贡献,水分子的轨道保持了气相水分子中的基本特征,但离域化程度增大.NBO分析表明,Ti原子通过3sp向水中氧原子转移电荷,而水分子又通过轨道离域把电荷反馈到由Ti的3d4s等轨道形成的反键轨道.虽然吸附后水中O,H原子的净电量增加,但O-H键减弱.吸附后水分子的振动频率发生红移.     

Density functional theory study of water adsorption on FeOOH surfaces

Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations with an on-site Coulomb repulsion term, we study the composition, stability, and electronic properties of the most common FeOOH surfaces goethite(101), akaganeite(100), and lepidocrocite(010), and their interaction with water. Despite the differences in surface structure, the trends in surface stability of these FeOOH polymorphs exhibit remarkable similarities. We find that the reactivity and the binding configuration of adsorbates depend strongly on the coordination of surface iron: at the fourfold coordinated Fe2 site water is chemisorbed, whereas at the fivefold coordinated Fe1 water is only loosely bound with hydrogen pointing towards the surface. Our results show that the oxidation state of surface iron can be controlled by the surface termination where ferryl (Fe^4 +) species emerge for oxygen terminated surfaces and ferrous iron (Fe^2 +) at iron and water terminations leading to a reduced band gap. In contrast, the fully hydroxylated surfaces, identified as stable surface configurations at standard conditions from the surface phase diagram, show electronic properties and band gaps closest to bulk FeOOH with ferric surface iron (Fe^3 +). Only in the case of goethite(101), a termination with mixed surface hydroxyl and aquo groups is stabilized.     

Physical properties of silver-coated silica clusters: A computer experiment

The effect on the physical properties of a silica cluster after silver coating has been studied by the molecular dynamics method. It has been established that silver atoms make a sphere-like cluster shape, increase mechanical stability and give a stable positive value of the surface tension. They increase the number of electrons able to interact with the electromagnetic field, and, hence, enhance the efficiency of thermal radiation transfer by clusters.     

The effects of curvature and surface heterogeneity on the adsorption of water in finite length carbon nanopores: a computer simulation study

The effects of pore curvature and surface heterogeneity on the adsorption of water on a graphitic surface at 298 K were investigated using a Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation. Slit and cylindrical pores are used to study the curvature effects. To investigate the surface heterogeneity the functional group and the structural defect on the surface were specifically considered. The hydroxyl group (OH) is used as a model for the functional group and the water potential model proposed by Müller et al. is used to calculate the water interaction. For the homogeneous cylinder, the pore filling occurs at a pressure lower than the saturation pressure of the water model, while it is greater in the case of homogeneous slit pore. The size of hysteresis loop is more sensitive to the length of cylinder than that of the slit, and it increases with decreasing pore length. The isotherms of water in cylindrical pores are found to depend on the position and the concentration of the functional group. The pore filling pressure is lower with an increased number and/or with the position of the functional group. The structural defect shows significant effects on the adsorption isotherm in shifting to a lower pore filling pressure when it is located at a position away from the pore entrance. The adsorption of water on the heterogeneous surface was studied and it was found that the simulated isotherm can describe the behaviour of water on Graphitized Thermal Carbon Black (GTCB) satisfactorily. The water cluster grows mostly along the surface for the case of finite extent surface, while for the slit the pore grows in all directions but the preference is a direction perpendicular to the pore wall. Reasons for the direction of growth will be discussed.     

A density functional theory study on the H2S molecule adsorption onto small gold clusters

An all-electron scalar relativistic calculation on Au_nH₂S (n = 1-13) clusters has been performed by using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation at PW91 level. The small gold cluster would like to bond with sulfur in the same plane and the H₂S molecule prefers to occupy the on-top and single fold coordination site in the cluster. The Au_n structures and H₂S molecule in all Au_nH₂S clusters are only slightly perturbed and still maintain their structural integrity. After adsorption, the S-H, H-H bond-lengths and most Au-Au bond-lengths are elongated, only a few Au-Au bond-lengths far from H₂S molecule are shortened. The reactivity enhancement of H₂S molecule is obvious and the strong gold-sulfur bond is observed expectedly. The most favorable adsorption takes place in the case that the H₂S molecule is adsorbed by an even-numbered Au_n cluster and becomes Au_nH₂S cluster with even number of valence electrons. It is believed that the strong scalar relativistic effect is favorable to H₂S molecule adsorption onto small gold clusters and is also one of the important reasons for the strong gold-sulfur bond.     

Stable ammonium bisulfate clusters in the atmosphere

Liquid drop model based equilibrium thermodynamics predicts that in the presence of even small ammonia concentrations practically all the atmospheric sulfuric acid molecules are bound to tiny, stable ammonium-bisulfate clusters. Hitherto sulfuric acid has been believed to form hydrates with water. Thermodynamic theory predicts correctly the hydrate formation observed experimentally. Results from ab initio computer simulations contradict the thermodynamic results and also the experimental findings for cluster formation in both sulfuric acid-water and ammonia-sulfuric acid-water mixtures.     

Enantiospecific adsorption of chiral molecules on chiral gold clusters

Enantioselectivity in gold clusters is investigated by studying the adsorption of a chiral amino acid (cysteine) on a chiral Au55 cluster using density functional calculations. The highest adsorption energies were found when the amino and thiolate functional groups of cysteine are bonded to the lowest coordinated edges of the chiral cluster. Enantiospecific adsorption is primarily obtained from the different bond location and strength, at the cluster edge, of the carboxyl groups forming the left- and right-handed enantiomers. These results provide theoretical support to convey enantioselectivity in asymmetric nanocatalysts using chiral gold clusters.     

Density functional study of ethylene adsorption on small gold,palladium and gold-palladium binary clusters

Density functional theory calculations were performed to investigate the structural and energetic properties of chemisorbed Au _n -(C₂H₄) _x and Pd _n -(C₂H₄) _x complexes, with n = 2 ? 4 and x = 1 ? 4. Adsorption in π-bonded mode dominates in Au _n -(C₂H₄) _x species irrespective of x while the di-σ mode can be formed in the most stable Pd _n -(C₂H₄) _x species. The adsorption energy decreases as the number of C₂H₄ molecules increases in Au _n -(C₂H₄) _x with n ? 4 and Pd _n -(C₂H₄) _x with n ? 3. The adsorption of one C₂H₄ molecule on bimetallic Au/Pd clusters has also been studied. The C₂H₄ molecule prefers binding to Pd atoms in π-bonded configuration on Au/Pd clusters. The net charge transfer and the typical shift in the vibrational frequencies of C₂H₄ have also been determined and discussed.     

Collective properties of water confined in carbon nanotubes: A computer simulation study

The collective properties of water confined in the (10,10), (8,8) and (6,6) carbon nanotubes are studied by analysing the longitudinal-current autocorrelation function, calculated from computer-simulated trajectories. The corresponding spectra clearly show the presence of two excitations, but their behaviour is quite different from that observed in the case of bulk water. Instead of the strong positive dispersion of the hydrodynamic sound mode characteristic of bulk water (the fast-sound phenomenon), the sound dispersion relation of confined water is observed to flatten into a non-propagating mode, while a second excitation appears at a higher frequency. This behaviour is analysed in terms of the localized oscillation modes of the hydrogen-bond network.     

Theoretical study of adsorption of water vapor on surface of metallic uranium

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Protonated water clusters

A complete set of protonated water clusters conformers up to n = 8 have been evaluated by ab-initio Hartree-Fock method in 6-311G** molecular orbitals basis set and with quadratic complete basis set method. Configurations of ground-state conformers are in a good accord with those available in literature but present dissociation energies for the light clusters agree better with experimental values. A tentative analysis of experimental conditions for observation of certain clusters is presented in comparison to selected formation paths of clusters. Dissociation energies show a broad range of values.     

An XPS study of the water adsorption on Cu(110)

The adsorption of H₂O on clean and oxygen precovered Cu(110) is studied at temperatures between 90 and 300 K by XPS. On the oxygen precovered surface three O(1s) emission lines are detected at lower temperature. They originate from adsorbed atomic oxygen, from OH groups, and from H₂O molecules. For an oxygen coverage of half a monolayer, XPS indicates that during H₂O decomposition the preadsorbed oxygen does not directly participate in the OH formation. After water adsorption on the clean surface three O(1s) emission lines are found, which are due to H₂O molecules, “disturbed” H₂O molecules, and OH groups. The XPS results are directly correlated with information about the adsorbates obtained by UPS. Coverages are determined from the XPS spectra for the detected species.