Oxygen adsorption on Al (111) surface interstitial site calculated by density functional theory

The adsorption possibilities of oxygen atoms at Al (111) surface for different oxygen atom coverages (Θ) from 0.25 to 1 ml have been studied using first principles based on density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation. The results show that the interstitial sites on Al (111) surface are relatively stable, in which binding energies are 0.6 ～ 1 eV/atom lower than those on surface face centered cubic (fcc) sites for the different coverages. The binding energy and work function of the oxygen‐adsorbed surface increase with the oxygen atom coverage. Moreover, the oxygen atom at one tetrahedral site of Al (111) subsurface becomes more and more unstable with the decrease of the coverage, and it moves up to the Al (111) surface hexagonal close packed (hcp) site at Θ = 0.25. All the octahedral absorption sites are also unstable in relatively lower coverages (Θ = 0.5 and 0.25). The bond length and overlap population between Al and O, including the relaxation effects on the oxygen atom coverage are discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

One- and three-parameter density functional theory and high level ab initio theory study of the CH+CH disproportionation reaction

Complete basis set (CBS) ab initio computational studies were performed with the target being to explore the CH+CH potential energy surface. Several closed and open shell intermediates were located on the potential energy surface. Computed enthalpies for the branching reactions, as well as heats of formation are in excellent agreement. Although CBS computed energies are of high quality, this computational study is not capable of predicting the branching product ratio due to fact that neither the MP2 nor the 6-311G(2d,2p) basis set are sufficient to locate the reactant complexes and the transition state structures for the hydrogen and carbon transfer reactions in the reaction complexes. To properly explore the CH+CH potential energy surface a much higher ab initio theory level is required.     

CO2 reforming of CH4 on Ni(111): a density functional theory calculation

CO(2) reforming of CH(4) on Ni(111) was investigated by using density functional theory. On the basis of thermodynamic analyses, the first step is CH(4) sequential dissociation into surface CH (CH(4) --> CH(3) --> CH(2) --> CH) and hydrogen, and CO(2) dissociation into surface CO and O (CO(2) --> CO + O). The second step is CH oxygenation into CHO (CH + O --> CHO), which is more favored than dissociation into C and hydrogen (CH --> C + H). The third step is the dissociation of CHO into surface CO and H (CHO --> CO + H). This can explain the enhanced selectivity toward the formation of CO and H(2) on Ni catalysts. It is found that surface carbon formation by the Bouduard back reaction (2CO = C((ads)) + CO(2)) is more favored than by CH(4) sequential dehydrogenation. The major problem of CO(2) reforming of CH(4) is the very strong CO adsorption on Ni(111), which results in the accumulation of CO on the surface and hinders the subsequent reactions and promotes carbon deposition. Therefore, promoting CO desorption should maintain the reactivity and stability of Ni catalysts. The computed energy barriers of the most favorable elementary reaction identify the CH(4) activation into CH(3) and H as the rate-determining step of CO(2) reforming of CH(4) on Ni(111), in agreement with the isotopic experimental results.     

High level ab initio and density functional theory study of bond selective dissociation of CH3SH and CH3CH2SH radical cations

Selective bond dissociation energies for CH₃SH and CH₃CH₂SH radical cations were evaluated with G1, G2, G2MP2, B3LYP, BLYP, and SVWN computational methods. It was determined that both G2 and CBSQ evaluate very accurate bond dissociation energies for thiol radical cations, while gradient-corrected BLYP computes the best energies of three employed DFT methods. For the CH₃CH₂SH radical cation, new, higher than previously estimated selective bond dissociation energies were suggested. Received: 10 September 1997 / Accepted: 9 September 1998 / Published online: 11 November 1998     

A density functional theory study on the atmospheric reaction of CH3O2 with HS: Mechanism and kinetics

The reaction mechanism of CH₃O₂ and HS was systematically investigated by density functional theory (DFT). Six singlet pathways and seven triplet ones are located on the potential surface (PES). The result indicates that the main products are CH₃O and HSO both on the singlet and triplet PES, different from the CH₃O₂ + OH reaction. Moreover, deformation density (ρ_def) and atoms in molecules (AIM) analyses were carried out to further uncover the nature of chemical bonding evolution in the primary pathways. Furthermore, reaction rate constants were calculated in the temperature range from 200 to 1000 K using the transition state theory with the Wigner and Eckart tunneling corrections. Our results can shed light on the title reaction and offer instructions for analogous atmospheric reactions, as well as experimental research in the future.     

The reaction pathways for HSCH3 adsorption on Au(111): a density functional theory study

Density functional theory was used to investigate the reaction pathways for HSCH(3) adsorption on Au(111) at low coverage. A molecular adsorbed state was found with the S atom bond on Top sites (E approximately -0.38 eV) and molecular adsorption is nonactivated. The H-SCH(3) dissociation process is energetically less favorable and becomes slightly exothermic only when surface relaxation is considered (DeltaE approximately -0.2 eV). All the reaction pathways present a sizable activation energy barrier, with the lowest being approximately 0.52 eV (0.41 eV taking into account slab relaxation). In the corresponding saddle point of the potential energy surface, the S atom of the methylthiolate molecule is placed on Top sites and the H near a Bridge site. The high barrier obtained explains the complete absence of reactive methanethiol dissociation found in recent experiments.     

Oxidation of carbon monoxide on Rh(111): a density functional theory study

The adsorption of CO on the oxygen precovered Rh(111) and the oxidation of CO are investigated with density functional theory. The preferred adsorption site and the possible reaction channel are determined. The experimentally observed inertness of the (2 x 2)-O-CO structure is explained by the reaction barrier and the stability of the reactants.     

Methanol oxidation on the PtPd(111) alloy surface: A density functional theory study

The mechanisms of methanol (CH₃OH) oxidation on the PtPd(111) alloy surface were systematically investigated by using density functional theory calculations. The energies of all the involved species were analyzed. The results indicated that with the removal of H atoms from adsorbates on PtPd(111) surface, the adsorption energies of (i) CH₃OH, CH₂OH, CHOH, and COH increased linearly, while those of (ii) CH₃OH, CH₃O, CH₂O, CHO, and CO exhibited odd‐even oscillation. On PtPd(111) surface, CH₃OH underwent the preferred initial C H bond scission followed by successive dehydrogenation and then CHO oxidation, that is, CH₃OH → CH₂OH → CHOH → CHO → CHOOH → COOH → CO₂. Importantly, the rate‐determining step of CH₃OH oxidation was found to switch from CO → CO₂ on Pt(111) to COOH → CO₂ + H on PtPd(111) with a lower energy barrier of 0.96 eV. Moreover, water also decomposed into OH more easily on PtPd(111) than on Pt(111). The calculated results indicate that alloying Pt with Pd could efficiently improve its catalytic performance for CH₃OH oxidation through altering the primary pathways from the CO path on pure Pt to the non‐CO path on PtPd(111).     

Mechanistic study of the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction on Pt(111) using density functional theory

Density functional theory (DFT) was used to study the electrolyte solution effects on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on Pt(111). To model the acid electrolyte, an H(5)O(2)(+) cluster was used. The vibrational proton oscillation modes for adsorbed H(5)O(2)(+) computed at 1711 and 1010 cm(-1), in addition to OH stretching and H(2)O scissoring modes, agree with experimental vibrational spectra for proton formation on Pt surfaces in ultrahigh vacuum. Using the H(5)O(2)(+) model, protonation of adsorbed species was found to be facile and consistent with the activation barrier of proton transfer in solution. After protonation, OOH dissociates with an activation barrier of 0.22 eV, similar to the barrier for O(2) dissociation. Comparison of the two pathways suggests that O(2) protonation precedes dissociation in the oxygen reduction reaction. Additionally, an OH diffusion step following O protonation inhibits the reaction, which may lead to accumulation of oxygen on the electrode surface.     

A density functional theory study of the noble metal adsorption on the CeO2(111) surface

利用密度泛函理论系统研究了贵金属原子(Au、Pd、Pt和Rh)在CeO2( 111)表面的吸附行为.结果表明,Au吸附在氧顶位最稳定,Pd、Pt倾向吸附于氧桥位,而Rh在洞位最稳定.当金属原子吸附在氧顶位时,吸附强度依次为Pt ＞Rh＞ Pd＞Au.Pd、Pt与Rh吸附后在Ce 4 f、O2p电子峰间出现掺杂峰;Au未出现掺杂电子峰,其d电子峰与表面O2p峰在-4 -1 eV重叠.态密度分析表明,Au吸附在氧顶位、Pd与Pt吸附在桥位、Rh吸附在洞位时,金属与CeO2(111)表面氧原子作用较强,这与Bader电荷分析结果相一致.     

CO在δ-Pu(111)面吸附行为的周期性密度泛函理论研究

利用量子化学中的密度泛函理论结合周期模型方法研究了CO分子在δ-Pu(111)面的吸附行为.通过对不同吸附位置的吸附能和平衡几何结构比较发现,CO分子在δ-Pu(111)面的吸附C端吸附比O端吸附更有利,属于较强的化学作用,最稳定的吸附方式为心式垂直吸附,桥式次之,顶式最不稳定.心式垂直吸附的吸附能为-1.236 eV,C原子吸附位距离Pu表面0.212 2 nm,C-O键长0.120 8 nm.CO与Pu配位数目是决定化学吸附的主要因素,配位的Pu原子数目越多,化学成键越稳定.Mulliken电荷分析表明CO和Pu表面的作用主要发生在第一层,另外两层几乎没有影响.     

A density functional theory study on pelargonidin

A complete conformational analysis on the isolated and polarizable continuum model (PCM) modeled aqueous solution cation, quinonoidal, and anion forms of pelargonidin, comprising the diverse tautomers of the latter forms, was carried out at the B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level. The results indicate that the most stable conformer of cationic and quinonoidal forms of pelargonidin are completely planar in the gas phase, whereas that of the anionic form is not planar. In contrast, PCM calculations show that the plane of the B ring is slightly rotated with regard to the AC bicycle in the most stable conformer of the cation and quinonoidal form. The most stable conformers of the cation, both in gas phase and aqueous solution, display anti and syn orientations for, respectively, C2-C3-O-H and C6-C5-O-H dihedral angles, whereas syn and anti orientation of hydroxyls at 7 and 4' positions are nearly isoenergetic. The most stable tautomer of quinonoidal pelargonidin is obtained by deprotonating hydroxyl at C5 in gas phase but at C7 according to PCM. Also, the most stable tautomer of the anion is different in gas phase (hydrogens are abstracted from hydroxyls at C5 and C4') and PCM simulation (C3 and C5). Tautomeric equilibria affect substantially the geometries of the AC-B backbone providing bond length variations that basically agree with the predictions of the resonance model. Most of the conformers obtained display an intramolecular hydrogen bond between O3 and H6'. Nevertheless, this interaction is not present in the most stable anions. Ionization potentials and O-H bond dissociation energies computed for the most stable conformers of cation, quinonoidal, and anion forms are consistent with an important antioxidant activity.     

Investigation of spin-flip reactions of Zr + CH3CN by relativistic density functional theory

To explore the details of the reaction mechanisms of Zr atoms with acetonitrile molecules, the triplet and singlet spin-state potential energy surfaces have been investigated. Density functional theory (DFT) with the relativistic zero-order regular approximation at the PW91/TZ2P level has been applied. The complicated minimum energy reaction path involves four transition states (TS), stationary states 1-5 and one spin inversion (indicated by ?): (3)Zr + NCCH(3) → (3)Zr-η(1)-NCCH(3) ((3)1) → (3)TS(1/2) → (3)Zr-η(2)-(NC)CH(3) ((3)2) → (3)TS(2/3) → (3)ZrH-η(3)-(NCCH(2)) ((3)3) → (3)TS(3/4) → CNZrCH(3) ((3)4) ? (1)TS(4/5) → CN(ZrH)CH(2) ((1)5). The minimum energy crossing point was determined with the help of the DFT fractional-occupation-number approach. The spin inversion leading from the triplet to the singlet state facilitates the activation of a C-H bond, lowering the rearrangement-barrier by 78 kJ/mol. The overall reaction is calculated to be exothermic by about 296 kJ/mol. All intermediate and product species were frequency and NBO analyzed. The species can be rationalized with the help of Lewis type formulas.     

Fourier transform infrared observation and density functional theory study of the AlC3 and AlC3Al linear chains trapped in solid Ar

The vibrational spectra of linear AlC(3) and AlC(3)Al, formed by trapping the products of the dual laser evaporation of aluminum and carbon rods in solid Ar at approximately 10 K, were observed. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurements of (13)C isotopic shifts are in good agreement with the predictions of density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP6-311+G(3df) calculations, enabling the first assignments of the nu(3)(sigma(u)) and nu(4)(sigma(u)) fundamentals of ((3)Sigma(g) (+)) linear AlC(3)Al at 1624.0 and 528.3 cm(-1), respectively, and the nu(2)(sigma) vibrational fundamental of ((2)Pi) linear AlC(3) at 1210.9 cm(-1).     

A dual-level ab initio and hybrid density functional theory dynamics study on the unimolecular decomposition reaction C2H5O-->CH2O + CH3

We present a direct ab initio and hybrid density functional theory dynamics study of the thermal rate constants of the unimolecular decomposition reaction of C2H5O-->CH2O + CH3 at a high-pressure limit. MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p), MP2/6-31+G(d,p), and MP2(full)/6-31G(d) methods were employed to optimize the geometries of all stationary points and to calculate the minimum energy path (MEP). The energies of all the stationary points were refined at a series of multicoefficient and multilevel methods. Among all methods, the QCISD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ energies are in good agreement with the available experimental data. The rate constants were evaluated based on the energetics from the QCISD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory using both microcanonical variational transition state theory (microVT) and RRKM theory with the Eckart tunneling correction in the temperature range of 300-2500 K. The calculated rate constants at the QCISD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ/MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory are in good consistent with experimental data. The fitted three-parameter Arrhenius expression from the microVT/Eckart rate constants in the temperature range 200-2500 K is k = 2.52 x 10(12)T(0.41)e(-8894.0/T) s(-1). The falloff curves of pressure-dependent rate constants are performed using master-equation method within the temperature range of 391-471 K. The calculated results are in good agreement with the available experimental data.     

Selective oxidation of styrene on an oxygen-adsorbed Au(111): A density functional theory study

The reaction mechanism for the styrene selective oxidation on the oxygen preadsorbed Au(111) surface has been studied by the density functional theory calculation with the periodic slab model. The calculated results showed that the process of reaction includes two steps: forming the oxametallacycle intermediate (OMME) and then producing the products. It was found that the second step, from OMME to product is the rate-controlling step, which is similar to ethylene selective oxidation on Ag. Importantly, the present density-functional-theory calculation results suggested that the mechanism via the OMME (2) (i.e. the preadsorbed atomic oxygen bound to the CH2 group involved in C6H5--CH=CH2) to produce styrene epoxide is kinetically favored than that of OMME (1).     

Application of the stabilization method to temporary anion states of CH3CN, CH3NC, CH3SCN, and CH3NCS in density functional theory with asymptotically corrected potentials

In this paper, density functional theory (DFT) with asymptotically corrected potentials is used to investigate CH(3)CN, CH(3)NC, CH(3)SCN, and CH(3)NCS molecules. For the energies of σ* and π* temporary anion states, the stabilized Koopmans' theorem (S-KT) using long-range correction functional and stabilized Koopmans-based (S-KB) approximation using local functional, are adopted. The stabilization procedure is accomplished by varying the exponents of appropriate diffuse functions. Results indicate that the calculations based on asymptotically corrected density functionals can yield better energy results of temporary anion states over conventional DFT methods.     

Factors influencing Al(3+)-dimer speciation and stability from density functional theory calculations

We have investigated aqueous Al-dimer complexes using density functional theory methods (e.g. the B3LYP exchange-correlation functional and the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set). In these calculations interactions between the Al(3+) cations and the H(2)O or OH(-) coordinating ligands are considered explicitly while the second hydration shell and remaining solvent are treated as a continuum under the IEF-PCM formalism. The Al-dimer chemical reactivity is discussed by analysis of changes in geometry, electronic structure and Gibbs free energy of formation, relative to two independent Al(H(2)O) monomers, as a function of water and hydroxide coordination. Our results indicate that the mechanism of cooperativity, i.e. decreased Al-water bond stability with increasing OH(-) coordination and increased water ligand hydrolysis as complex CN decreases, is operating on the dimer species and that, therefore, a wide variety of dimer species are available. While the stability of these species is observed to be dependent on the number of water and hydroxide ligands, the hydroxide bridging structure (singly, doubly and triply bridged species are considered) does not appear to correlate with dimer stability. Interestingly, intra-molecular H-bonds (in the form of the well known H(3)O bridge as well as two bridging structures, H(4)O(2) and H(2)O, that have not, to our knowledge, been previously considered) are observed to influence dimer stability. The evaluation of the equilibrium mole fraction of the dimer species in equilibrium with the aqueous Al(3+) monomer species of our previous study displays the qualitatively correct trend of solution composition as pH increases, namely monomeric aqueous Al(3+) and Al(OH) complexes dominate at low and high pH, respectively, and all remaining monomer and dimer species exist at intermediate pH. Further refinement of our data set by eliminating dimer complexes with OH/Al ratios greater than 2.6 brings our predicted equilibrium mole fraction distributions into excellent agreement with experimental observations. The triply bridged dimer is observed in low amounts while the singly and doubly bridged dimers dominate our model system at pH = ～4-7.     

Surface reaction of alkynes and alkenes with H-Si(111): a density functional theory study

Recent experiments on the addition of alkene and alkyne molecules to H-terminated silicon surfaces have provided evidence for a surface chain reaction initiated at isolated Si dangling bonds and involving an intermediate carbon radical state, which, after abstraction of a hydrogen atom from a neighboring Si-H unit, transforms into a stable adsorbed species plus a new Si dangling bond. Using periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations, together with an efficient method for determining reaction pathways, we have studied the initial steps of this chain reaction for a few different terminal alkynes and alkenes interacting with an isolated Si dangling bond on an otherwise H-saturated Si(111) surface. Calculated minimum energy pathways (MEPs) indicate that the chain mechanism is viable in the case of C(2)H(2), whereas for C(2)H(4) the stabilization of the intermediate state is so small and the barrier for H-abstraction so (relatively) large that the molecule is more likely to desorb than to form a stable adsorbed species. For phenylacetylene and styrene, stabilization of the intermediate state and decrease of the H-abstraction barrier take place. While a stable adsorbed species exists in both cases, the overall heat of adsorption is larger for the alkyne molecules.     

Ab initio/density functional theory and multichannel RRKM study for the ClO + CH2O reaction

The potential energy surface for the CH(2)O + ClO reaction was calculated at the QCISD(T)/6-311G(2d,2p)//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. The rate constants for the lower barrier reaction channels producing HOCl + HCO, H atom, OCH(2)OCl, cis-HC(O)OCl and trans-HC(O)OCl have been calculated by TST and multichannel RRKM theory. Over the temperature range of 200-2000 K, the overall rate constants were k(200-2000K) = 1.19 x 10(-13)T(0.79) exp(-3000.00/T). At 250 K, the calculated overall rate constant was 5.80 x 10(-17) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), which was in good agreement with the experimental upper limit data. The calculated results demonstrated that the formation of HOCl + HCO was the dominant reaction channel and was exothermic by 9.7 kcal/mol with a barrier of 5.0 kcal/mol. When it retrograded to the reactants CH(2)O + ClO, an energy barrier of 14.7 kcal/mol is required. Furthermore, when HOCl decomposed into H + ClO, the energy required was 93.3 kcal/mol. These results suggest that the decomposition in both the forward and backward directions for HOCl would be difficult in the ground electronic state.