Pt(x)Ru(1-x)/Ru(0001) surface alloys-formation and atom distribution

The formation of PtRu surface alloys by deposition of submonolayer Pt films on a Ru(0001) substrate and subsequent annealing to about 1350 K and the distribution of the Pt atoms in the surface layer were investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy. Quantitative statistical analysis reveals (i) negligible losses of Pt into subsurface regions up to coverages close below 1 monolayer, (ii) a homogeneous distribution of the Pt atoms over the surface, and (iii) the absence of a distinct long-range or short-range order in the surface layer. In addition, the density of specific adsorption ensembles is analyzed as a function of Pt surface content. Possible conclusions on the process for surface alloy formation are discussed. The results are compared with the properties of PtRu bulk alloys and the findings in previous adsorption studies on similar surface alloys (H. Rauscher, T. Hager, T. Diemant, H. Hoster, F. Bautier de Mongeot and R. J. Behm, Surf. Sci., 2007, 601, 4608; T. Diemant, H Rauscher and R. J. Behm, J. Phys. Chem. C, in press).     

Energetics driving the short-range order in CuxPd1-x/Ru(0001) monolayer surface alloys

The energetics determining the distinct short-range order in two-dimensional (2D) monolayer Cu(x)Pd(1-x) surface alloys on a Ru(0001) substrate were investigated by Monte Carlo simulations and density functional theory calculations. Using a 2D lattice gas Hamiltonian based on effective pair interaction (EPI) parameters, the EPIs were derived for different Cu concentrations with Monte Carlo (MC) simulations by comparing with the atomic distributions obtained from atomic resolution STM images and the related Warren-Cowley short-range order parameters (Hoster et al., Phys. Rev. B, 2006, 73 165413). The ground state structures and mixing energies at 0 K derived from these EPIs agree well with mixing energies determined from DFT calculations of different ordered surface alloys. Additional MC simulations yield rather low transition temperatures which explain the absence of ordered 2D phases in the experiments. The consequences of our findings for the use of alloy surfaces and surface alloys as model systems for adsorption and catalytic reaction studies are discussed.     

Oxygen adsorption on Pt/Ru(0001) layers

Chemical properties of epitaxially grown bimetallic layers may deviate substantially from the behavior of their constituents. Strain in conjunction with electronic effects due to the nearby interface represent the dominant contribution to this modification. One of the simplest surface processes to characterize reactivity of these substrates is the dissociative adsorption of an incoming homo-nuclear diatomic molecule. In this study, the adsorption of O(2) on various epitaxially grown Pt films on Ru(0001) has been investigated using infrared absorption spectroscopy and thermal desorption spectroscopy. Pt/Ru(0001) has been chosen as a model system to analyze the individual influences of lateral strain and of the residual substrate interaction on the energetics of a dissociative adsorption system. It is found that adsorption and dissociative sticking depends dramatically on Pt film thickness. Even though oxygen adsorption proceeds in a straightforward manner on Pt(111) and Ru(0001), molecular chemisorption of oxygen on Pt/Ru(0001) is entirely suppressed for the Pt/Ru(0001) monolayer. For two Pt layers chemisorbed molecular oxygen on Pt terraces is produced, albeit at a very slow rate; however, no (thermally induced) dissociation occurs. Only for Pt layer thicknesses N(Pt) ≥ 3 sticking gradually speeds up and annealing leads to dissociation of O(2), thereby approaching the behavior for oxygen adsorption on genuine Pt(111). For Pt monolayer films a novel state of chemisorbed O(2), most likely located at step edges of Pt monolayer islands is identified. This state is readily populated which precludes an activation barrier towards adsorption, in contrast to adsorption on terrace sites of the Pt/Ru(0001) monolayer.     

Synergistic interactions in three-center metal---metal bonding. Cu---Zn on Ru(0001)

Cu and Zn alloy when co-adsorbed on top of Ru(0001). The properties of these alloy films have been examined using thermal desorption mass spectroscopy, core-level photoemission, and CO chemisorption. For submonolayer coverages of Cu and Zn, the interaction among the Ru---Zn, Ru---Cu and Zn---Cu bonds produces a system that has electronic and chemical properties significantly different from those of Cu/Ru(0001), Zn/Ru(0001) and thick copper zinc alloys. Two-dimensional copper zinc alloys supported on Ru(0001) show Zn---Ru and Zn---Cu bonds more stable than the corresponding bonds in Zn/Ru(0001) or thick CuZn alloys. We propose that this phenomenon is caused by synergistic interactions in three-center metal---metal bonding.     

From Adlayer Islands to Surface Alloy: Structural and Chemical Changes on Bimetallic PtRu/Ru(0001) Surfaces

The correlation between structural and chemical properties of bimetallic PtRu/Ru(0001) model catalysts and their modification upon stepwise annealing of a submonolayer Pt‐covered Ru(0001) surface up to the formation of an equilibrated Pt_xRu_1?x/Ru(0001) monolayer surface alloy was investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy and by the adsorption of CO and D₂ probe molecules. Both temperature‐programmed desorption and IR measurements demonstrate the influence of the surface structure on the adsorption properties of the bimetallic surface, which can be explained by changes of the composition of the adsorption ensembles (ensemble effects) for D adsorption and by changes in the electronic interaction (ligand effects, strain effects) of the metallic constituents for CO and D adsorption upon alloy formation.     

Structure of Oxygen and CO Adsorption on Ru(0001) Electrode

It is important to understand the chemisorption of oxygen and CO on Ru(0001) surface. CO oxidation at oxygen precovered Ru(0001) surface at low oxygen coverages gave an extremely low CO oxidation rate, and it was also observed that, with a nominal oxygen coverage exceeding ca. 3 mL, rather high CO/CO2 conversion probabilities were achieved1. In the case of coadsorption of CO and oxygen on Ru(0001) surface under UHV conditions, a model comprising two CO molecules in an (22)-O unit cel…     

氢原子在Ru(0001)表面的化学吸附

用密度泛函理论研究了氢原子的污染对于Ru(0001)表面结构的影响. 通过PAW(projector-augmented wave)总能计算研究了p(1×1)、p(1×2)、(3^(1/2)×3^(1/2))R30°和p(2×2)等几种氢原子覆盖度下的吸附结构, 以及在上述结构下Ru(0001)面fcc(面心立方)格点和hcp(六方密堆)格点的氢原子吸附. 所得结果表明, 在p(1×1)-H、p(1×2)-H、(3^(1/2)×3^(1/2))R30°-H和p(2×2)-H几种H原子覆盖度下, 以p(1×1)-H结构单个氢原子吸附能为最大. 在p(1×1)-H吸附结构下,由于氢原子吸附导致的Ru(0001) 表面第一层Ru 原子收缩的理论计算数值分别为-1.11%(hcp 吸附)和-1.55%(fcc 吸附), 因此实际上最有可能的情况是两种吸附方式都有一定的几率. 而实验中观察到的“清洁”Ru(0001)表面实际上是有少量氢原子污染的表面. 不同覆盖度和氢分压下氢原子吸附的污染对Ru(0001)表面结构有极大的影响,其表面的各种特性都会随覆盖度的不同而产生相应的变化.     

Electrooxidation of CO on Ru（0001） and RuO2（ 100） Electrode Surfaces

The electrooxidation of CO on Ru(0001) and RuO2(100) electrode surfaces were characterized by cyclic voltammetry,AES and RHEED,The CO adlayer was first partially oxidized at 0.8 V, which is controlled by the attack of oxygen species toward the Ru(0001) surface. The remaining CO aldayer oxidation at 0.55 V is related to the combination of CO molecules with oxygen species already located on the surface,In contrast,successive peaks on RuO2(100) at 0.4 V and 0.72 V are observed ,which shows that CO molecules can directly react with two different lattice-oxygen on the surface to carbon dioxide.     

Surface Structure and Electrocatalytic Activity of Ru(0001) and Ru/Pt(111) Single Crystal Electrodes:In-situ FTIR and ex-situ LEED,RHEED and AES Studies

In-situ FTIR spectroscopic and electrochemical data, and ex-situ (emersion) electron diffraction (LEED and RHEED) and Auger electron spectroscopic (AES) data are presented on the structure and reactivity, with respect to the electro-oxidation of CO, of the Ru(0001) single crystal surfaces in perchloric acid solution. In both the absence and presence of adsorbed CO, the Ru(0001) electrode shows the potential-dependent formation of well-defined and ordered oxygen-containing adlayers. At low potentials (eg. from -80 to +200 mV vs Ag/AgCl), a (2 x 2)-O phase is formed, which is unreactive toward CO oxidation, in agreement with UHV studies; increasing the potential results in the formation of (3 x 1) and (1 x 1) phases at 410 mV and 1100 mV, respectively, with a concomitant increase in the reactivity of the surface toward CO oxidation. Both linear (CO_L) and threefold-hollow (CO_H) binding CO adsorbates (bands at 2000-2040 cm^-1 and 1770-1800 cm^-1, respectively) were observed on the Ru(0001) electrode. The in-situ FTIR data show that the adsorbed CO species still remain in compact islands as CO oxidation proceeds, suggesting that the oxidation occurs at the boundaries between the CO_ad and active O_ad domains via the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. At low CO coverages,reversible relaxation, (at lower potentials), and compression, (at higher potentials), of the CO_L adlayer were observed and rationalised in terms of the reduction and formation of surface O-adlayers, The data obtained from the Ru(0001) electrode are in marked contrast to those observed at polycrystalline Ru, where only linear CO is observed.     

Palladium monolayer and palladium alloy electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction

We investigated the oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR) on Pd monolayers on various surfaces and on Pd alloys to obtain a substitute for Pt and to elucidate the origin of their activity. The activity of Pd monolayers supported on Ru(0001), Rh(111), Ir(111), Pt(111), and Au(111) increased in the following order: Pd/Ru(0001) < Pd/Ir(111) < Pd/Rh(111) < Pd/Au(111) < Pd/Pt(111). Their activity was correlated with their d-band centers, which were calculated using density functional theory (DFT). We found a volcano-type dependence of activity on the energy of the d-band center of Pd monolayers, with Pd/Pt(111) at the top of the curve. The activity of the non-Pt Pd2Co/C alloy electrocatalyst nanoparticles that we synthesized was comparable to that of commercial Pt-containing catalysts. The kinetics of the ORR on this electrocatalyst predominantly involves a four-electron step reduction with the first electron transfer being the rate-determining step. The downshift of the d-band center of the Pd "skin", which constitutes the alloy surface due to the strong surface segregation of Pd at elevated temperatures, determined its high ORR activity. Additionally, it showed very high methanol tolerance, retaining very high catalytic activity for the ORR at high concentrations of methanol. Provided its stability is satisfactory, this catalyst might possibly replace Pt in fuel-cell cathodes, especially those of direct methanol oxidation fuel cells (DMFCs).     

Initial growth of the water layer on (1 x 1)-oxygen-covered Ru(0001) in comparison with that on bare Ru(0001)

The initial growth of a water (D2O) layer on (1 x 1)-oxygen-covered Ru(0001) has been studied in comparison with that on bare Ru(0001) by means of temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS). Although water molecules adsorbed on both bare and (1 x 1)-oxygen-covered Ru(0001) commonly tend to form hydrogen bonds with each other when mobility occurs upon heating, the TPD and IRAS measurements for the two surfaces exhibit distinct differences. On (1 x 1)-oxygen-covered Ru(0001), most of the D2O molecules were desorbed with a peak at 160 K, even at submonolayer coverage, as condensed water desorption. The vibration spectra of adsorbed D2O also showed broad peaks such as a condensed water phase, from the beginning of low coverage. For submonolayer coverage, in addition, we found a characteristic O-D stretching mode at around 2650 cm(-1), which is never clearly observed for D2O on bare Ru(0001). Thus, we propose a distinctive water adsorption structure on (1 x 1)-oxygen-covered Ru(0001) and discuss its influence on water layer growth in comparison with the case of D2O on bare Ru(0001).     

Growth of PtRu Clusters on Ru(0001)‐Supported Monolayer Graphene Films

We report on results of a detailed scanning tunnelling microscopy study on the formation, size and size distribution, and internal structure of small bimetallic PtRu clusters on a graphene monolayer film supported on a Ru(0001) substrate. These clusters, with sizes around ～15 (Ru) or ～40 (Pt) atoms per cluster at the lowest coverage, are interesting model systems for the catalytic behaviour of small metal PtRu particles, for example for application in electrocatalytic oxidation reactions. The clusters were generated by sequential deposition of the two metals at room temperature. The data reveal a distinct influence of the deposition sequence on the cluster formation process, with Ru pre‐deposition followed by Pt deposition leading to predominantly bimetallic clusters, possibly with a core–shell‐type structure, while the reverse sequence results in co‐existent mono‐ and bimetallic clusters, where the latter are likely to intermix at the interface. The observations are related to the nucleation process of the respective metals on the templated surface, and the 2D growth behaviour of the two metals.     

Evidence of stable high-temperature D(x)-CO intermediates on the Ru(0001) surface

We demonstrate the formation of complexes involving attractive interactions between D and CO on Ru(0001) that are stable at significantly higher temperatures than have previously been reported for such intermediate species on this surface. These complexes are evident by the appearance of new desorption features upon heating of the sample. They decompose in stages as the sample temperature is increased, with the most stable component desorbing at >500 K. The D:CO ratio remaining on the surface during the final stages of desorption tends towards 1:1. The new features are populated during normally incident molecular beam dosing of D(2) on to CO pre-covered Ru(0001) surfaces (180 K) when the CO coverage exceeds 50% of the saturation value. The amount of complex formed decreases somewhat with increasing CO pre-coverage. It is almost absent in the case of dosing on to the fully saturated surface. The results are interpreted in terms of both local and long-range rearrangements of the overlayer that give rise to the observed CO coverage dependence and limit the amount of complex that can be formed.     

Interaction of CO and deuterium with bimetallic, monolayer Pt-island/film covered Ru(0001) surfaces

The adsorption properties of structurally well defined bimetallic Pt/Ru(0001) surfaces, consisting of a Ru(0001) substrate partly or fully covered by monolayer Pt islands or a monolayer Pt film, were studied by temperature programmed desorption (TPD) using CO and deuterium as probe molecules. Additionally, the adsorption of CO was investigated by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS). The presence of the pseudomorphic platinum islands or monolayer film leads to considerable modifications of the adsorption properties for both adsorbates, both on the Pt covered and, to a smaller extent, on the bare Ru part of the surfaces. In addition to distinct weakly bound adspecies, which are adsorbed on the monolayer Pt islands, we find unique contributions from island edge desorption, from spill-over processes during the desorption run, and a general down-shift of the peak related to desorption from Pt-free Ru(0001) areas with increasing Pt coverage. These effects, which we consider as characteristic for adsorption on bimetallic surfaces with large contiguous areas of the respective types, are discussed in detail.     

Adsorption of bisulfate on the Ru(0001) single crystal electrode surface

Adsorption of anions from sulfuric acid solutions has been studied on Ru(0001) single crystal and polycrystalline surfaces by electrochemical techniques and in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Infrared spectroscopy shows that bisulfate is the anion adsorbed on the Ru(0001) surface. The bisulfate adsorption is detected at the H₂ evolution potential and extends into the potential region where the Ru surface is oxidized. A method for extracting unipolar bands from bipolar bands has been presented. The tuning rate of adsorbed bisulfate in the double layer potential region of Ru(0001) was found to be significantly smaller than those observed for other platinum metals. This has been ascribed to a small change in bisulfate coverage on Ru(0001) in this potential range. Bisulfate vibration frequencies are higher on this surface than at any face-centered cubic metal with the (111) orientation. Oxidation of the Ru(0001) surface is limited to one electron per Ru atom, distinctly different from the high degree of oxidation seen in polycrystalline surfaces. For oxidized polycrystalline Ru, only solution phase sulfates and bisulfates are observed in the IR spectra.     

甲醇在Ru(0001)表面吸附的密度泛函研究

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)的B3LYP方法,以原子簇Ru15为模拟表面,对甲醇在理想的Ru(0001)面三种吸附位置(top,fcc,hcp)的吸附模型进行了几何构型优化,能量计算,Mu lliken布局分析以及振动频率计算,结果表明顶位为最有利的吸附位.这些变化与实验观察到的甲醇在过渡金属表面解离的结果相一致.同时通过对吸附过程的分析推测其可能的解离途径.     

Competitive segregation of Si and P on Fe96.5Si3.5 (100) and (110)

Annealing an Fe_96.5Si_3.5 (100)/(110) bicrystal, containing 90 ppm P, leads immediately to a strong segregation of silicon. The Si atoms, however, desegregate subsequently and are displaced by P, whose segregation enthalpy is larger than that of silicon. The corresponding surface structures formed on both faces have been studied using complementary methods: Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to obtain atomically resolved geometrical information and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) for the determination of the surface composition. Si substitutes surface Fe atoms on both faces and forms ordered surface alloys, whereas P occupies hollow sites on the surface. Si and P form c(2 × 2) superstructures on the (100) surface, whereby each segregated phosphorus atom blocks in the average one silicon segregation site. The (110) surface, on the other hand, is characterized by a c(1 × 3) Si superstructure. Due to the anisotropy of this surface the P/Si exchange proceeds by the formation of silicon coverage decreasing domain boundaries within the silicon structure, which are simultaneously occupied by P atoms. Furthermore the comparison of the AES and STM derived phosphorus coverages indicates a P multilayer segregation on the (110) surface.     

Scanning tunneling microscopy of sulfur and benzenethiol chemisorbed on Ru(0001) in 0.1 M HClO4

In situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) combined with linear sweep voltammetry was used to examine spatial structures of sulfur adatoms (SA) and benzenethiol (BT) molecules adsorbed on an ordered Ru(0001) electrode in 0.1 M HClO4. The Ru(0001) surface, prepared by mechanical polishing and electrochemical reduction at -1.5 V (vs RHE) in 0.1 M HClO4, contained atomically flat terraces with an average width of 20 nm. Cyclic voltammograms obtained with an as-prepared Ru(0001) electrode in 0.1 M HClO4 showed characteristics nearly identical to those of Ru(0001) treated in high vacuum. High-quality STM images were obtained for SA and BT to determine their spatial structures as a function of potential. The structure of the SA adlayer changed from (2 x mean square root of 3)rect to domain walls to (mean square root of 7 x mean square root of 7)R19.1 degrees and then to disordered as the potential was scanned from 0.3 to 0.6 V. In contrast, molecules of BT were arranged in (2 x mean square root of 3)rect between 0.1 and 0.4 V, while they were disordered at all other potentials. Adsorption of BT molecules was predominantly through the sulfur headgroup. Sulfur adatoms and adsorbed BT molecules were stable against anodic polarization up to 1.0 V (vs RHE). These two species were adsorbed so strongly that their desorption did not occur even at the onset potential for the reduction of water in 0.1 M KOH.     

Density Functional Theoretical Studies on the Methanol Adsorption and Decomposition on Ru(0001) Surfaces

Periodic density functional theory(DFT) calculations are presented to describe the adsorption and decomposition of CH₃OH on Ru(0001) surfaces with different coverages, including p(3×2), p(2×2), and p(2×1) unit cells, corresponding to monolayer(ML) coverages of 1/6, 1/4, and 1/2, respectively. The geometries and energies of all species involved in methanol dissociation were analyzed, and the initial decomposition reactions of methanol and the subsequent dehydrogenations reactions of CH₃O and CH₂OH were all computed at 1/2, 1/4, and 1/6 ML coverage on the Ru(0001) surface. The results show that coverage exerts some effects on the stable adsorption of CH₃O, CH₂OH, and CH₃, that is, the lower the coverage, the stronger the adsorption. Coverage also exerts effects on the initial decomposition of methanol. C-H bond breakage is favored at 1/2 ML, whereas C-H and O-H bond cleavages are preferred at 1/4 and 1/6 ML on the Ru(0001) surface, respectively. At 1/4 ML coverage on the Ru(0001) surface, the overall reaction mechanism can be written as 9CH₃OH→3CH₃O+6CH₂OH+9H→6CH₂O+3CHOH+18H→7CHO+COH+CH+OH+26H→8CO+C+O+36H.     

Identification of subsurface oxygen species created during oxidation of Ru(0001)

The oxidation states formed during low-temperature oxidation (T < 500 K) of a Ru(0001) surface are identified with photoelectron spectromicroscopy and thermal desorption (TD) spectroscopy. Adsorption and consecutive incorporation of oxygen are studied following the distinct chemical shifts of the Ru 3d(5/2) core levels of the two topmost Ru layers. The evolution of the Ru 3d(5/2) spectra with oxygen exposure at 475 K and the corresponding O2 desorption spectra reveal that about 2 ML of oxygen incorporate into the subsurface region, residing between the first and second Ru layer. Our results suggest that the subsurface oxygen binds to the first and second layer Ru atoms, yielding a metastable surface "oxide", which represents the oxidation state of an atomically well ordered Ru(0001) surface under low-temperature oxidation conditions. Accumulation of more than 3 ML of oxygen is possible via defect-promoted penetration below the second layer when the initial Ru(0001) surface is disordered. Despite its higher capacity for oxygen accumulation, also the disordered Ru surface does not show features characteristic for the crystalline RuO2 islands. Development of lateral heterogeneity in the oxygen concentration is evidenced by the Ru 3d(5/2) images and microspot spectra after the onset of oxygen incorporation, which becomes very pronounced when the oxidation is carried out at T > 550 K. This is attributed to facilitated O incorporation and oxide nucleation in microregions with a high density of defects.