Effect of alloying on the stabilities and catalytic properties of Pt–Au bimetallic subnanoclusters: a theoretical investigation

Density functional theory (DFT) has been applied to study the geometrical and electronic structures and the catalytic properties for NO oxidation of pure Pt and PtAu clusters. The calculated results suggest that Pt₁₀ clusters shows the most stable structure among the pure Pt _n (n = 2–13) clusters with the local maximum Δ₂ E value. The doping of Au atoms reduces the stability of the clusters, and Pt₆Au₄ cluster has the most stable structure among Pt_10?n Au _n (n = 1–7) clusters, due to the closest band centers between Pt and Au atoms (0.83 eV) and the obvious s–p resonance peaks near the Fermi level. Pt₆Au₄ cluster displays the strongest activation of O₂ molecules among Pt_10?n Au _n (n = 0–7) clusters, owing to the clear overlap between O 2p and Pt 6 s and Au 6 s near the Fermi level, and the more positive d band center than the others. The interaction between NO and metals changes slightly in NO/Pt_10-nAu_n (n = 2–7) systems, which is weaker than that in NO/Pt₉Au system, as a result of the decreasing resonance peaks of sp hybridization near the Fermi level. Compared to pure Pt₁₀ cluster, the lower energy barriers and larger reaction energies on Pt₆Au₄ cluster suggest a higher catalytic activity of PtAu cluster for the O₂ dissociation and NO oxidation reactions. Our study provides atomic-scale insights into the nature of the interfacial effect that determines NO oxidation on PtAu cluster catalysts.     

Density functional study of TaSin (n = 1-3, 12) clusters adsorbed to graphene surface

A plane-wave density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to investigate structural and electronic properties of TaSi_n (n = 1-3, 12) clusters supported by graphene surface. The resulting adsorption structures are described and discussed in terms of stability, bonding, and electron transfer between the cluster and the graphene. The TaSi_n clusters on graphene surface favor their free-standing ground-state structures. Especially in the cases of the linear TaSi₂ and the planar TaSi₃, the graphene surface may catalyze the transition of the TaSi_n clusters from an isomer of lower dimensionality into the ground-state structure. The adsorption site and configuration of TaSi_n on graphene surface are dominated by the interaction between Ta atom and graphene. Ta atom prefers to adsorb on the hollow site of graphene, and Si atoms tend to locate on the bridge site. Further, the electron transfer is found to proceed from the cluster to the surface for n = 1 and 2, while its direction reverses as n > 2. For the case of TaSi, chemisorption is shown to prevail over physisorption as the dominant mode of surface-adsorbate interaction by charge density analysis.     

Preventing the CO poisoning on Pt nanocatalyst using appropriate substrate: a first-principles study

Adsorption energies and stable configurations of CO on the Pt clusters are investigated using the first-principles density-functional theory method. It is found that the adsorption of CO on the top site of the Pt₄ cluster is more stable than that on the bridge site. The atomic charges are unevenly distributed within the charged Pt₄ cluster, and the structural positions of the Pt atoms determine their charge states and therefore their activity. A systematic study on the effects of electrons and holes doping in the Pt₄ clusters suggest an effective method to prevent the CO poisoning through regulating the total charge in Pt₄ clusters. The graphene-based substrate is an ideal catalyst support, which makes the Pt catalyst lose electron and weakens the CO adsorption. The results would be of great importance for designing high active nanoscale Pt catalysts used for fuel cells.     

Structural and electronic properties of PtPd and PtNi nanoalloys

The lowest-energy structures of binary (PtPd)_n, (PtNi)_m, (PtNi₃)_s, and (Pt₃Ni)_s nanoclusters, with n=2–28, m=2–20, and s=4–6, modeled by the many-body Gupta potential, were obtained by using a genetic-symbiotic algorithm. These structures were further relaxed within the density functional theory framework in order to obtain the most stable structures for each composition. Segregation is confirmed in all the (PtPd)_n clusters, where the Pt atoms occupy the cluster core and the Pd atoms are situated on the cluster surface. In contrast, for the (PtNi)_m nanoalloys, the Ni atoms are mainly found in the cluster core and the Pt atoms are segregated to the cluster surface. Likewise, for the (PtNi₃)_s nanoalloys, Ni atoms mainly compose the cluster core but there is no clear segregation of the Pt atoms to the surface. Furthermore, for the (Pt₃Ni)_s bimetallic clusters the Pt atoms concentrate in the cluster core and the Ni atoms are segregated to the surface. On the other hand, it has been experimentally found that the Pt_0.75Ni_0.25 supported nanoparticles present a higher catalytic activity for the selective oxidation of CO in the presence of hydrogen than the Pt_0.5Ni_0.5 and Pt_0.25Ni_0.75 nanoparticles. In order to understand this tendency in the catalytic activity, we also performed density functional calculations of the molecular CO adsorption on bimetallic Pt-Ni nanoclusters with the mentioned compositions.     

The influence of the composition of eight-atom Pt–Ir clusters on the magnetic properties

The energetic stability, electronic structure and magnetic properties of Pt_8–nIr_n clusters have been investigated by employing the spin-polarised generalised gradient approximation. The cubic structure is expected to be the effective building block in Ir-rich clusters after optimisation extensively. The average binding energy of all the clusters presents the linear increment trend with iridium atoms, due to the stronger interaction between Ir atoms than Pt atoms. Bader charge analysis shows how tiny charge transfers from iridium to platinum. The atomic moments of Ir are larger than that of Pt, and the Ir-rich clusters show greater moments than the Pt-rich cluster, with the exception of Ir₈ and Ir₇Pt. A unique magnetic property is found in the Pt₄Ir₄ cluster, where two Pt atoms show antiferromagnetic alignment and the other atoms are found to be aligned ferromagnetically.     

Density functional study of small cobalt-platinum nanoalloy clusters

The structural, energetic, electronic and magnetic properties of small bimetallic Co_nPt_m (n+m≤5) nanoalloy clusters are investigated by density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation. A plausible candidate for the ground state isomer and the other possible local minima, binding energies, relative stabilities, magnetic moments, the highest occupied and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy gaps have been calculated. It is found as a general trend that average binding energies of Co-Pt bimetallic clusters increase with Pt doping. Planar structures of pure Co clusters become 3D with the addition of Pt atoms. CoPt₂, Co₂Pt₂, Co₃Pt₂, and CoPt₄ nanoalloys are identified as the most stable species since they have higher second finite difference in energy than the others. Pt doping decreases the total spin magnetic moment gradually. A rule for the prediction of the total spin moments of small Co-Pt bimetallic clusters is derived.     

Pt_nAl(n=1—8)小团簇的密度泛函理论研究

采用密度泛函理论方法,在BPW91/LANL2DZ水平下详细研究了Pt n Al(n=1—8)团簇的几何结构、稳定性和电子性质.同时,分析了团簇的结构演化规律、平均结合能、二阶能量差分、能隙、磁性、Mulliken电荷和电极化率.结果表明:除Pt2Al外,所有Pt n Al(n=1—8)团簇的基态几何结构都可以用Al原子替换Pt n+1基态构型中的Pt原子得到,且Al原子位于较高的配位点上.二阶能量差分、能隙的分析结果表明,PtAl和Pt4Al团簇相对其他团簇具有较高的稳定性.Mulliken电荷分析表明,Al原子所带的电荷转移到Pt原子上,Al原子是电荷的捐赠者.磁性的分析说明,单个Al原子的加入对Pt n团簇的平均每原子磁矩随尺寸的变化趋势没有影响,但总体上降低了Pt n团簇的平均磁矩.极化率的研究表明,富Pt团簇的非线形光学效应强,容易被外场极化.     

Ethylene adsorption on the Pt-Cu bimetallic catalysts. Density functional theory cluster study

The adsorption of ethylene on Cu₁₂Pt₂ clusters has been studied within the density functional theory (DFT) approach to understand the high ethylene selectivity of Cu-rich Pt-Cu catalyst particles in the reaction of hydrogen-assisted 1,2-dichloroethane dechlorination. The structural parameters for Cu₁₂Pt₂ clusters with D_4h, D_2d, and C_3v symmetry have been calculated. The relative stability of the isomeric Cu₁₂Pt₂ clusters follows the order: C_3v > D_2d > D_4h. Each isomer has an active site for ethylene adsorption that consists of a single Pt atom surrounded by Cu atoms. The interaction of ethylene with the active site yields a π-C₂H₄ adsorption complex. The strongest π-C₂H₄ complex forms with the cluster of C_3v symmetry; the bonding energy, ΔE_π(C₂H₄), is −15.6 kcal mol⁻¹. The bonding energies for the π-C₂H₄ complex with Cu₁₄ and Pt₁₄ clusters are −6.5 and −18.8 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively.The addition of Pt to Cu modifies the valence spd-band of the cluster as compared to a Cu₁₄ cluster. The DOS near the Fermi level increases when C₂H₄ adsorbs on the Cu₁₂Pt₂ cluster. As well, the center of the d-band shifts toward lower binding energies. Ethylene adsorption also induces a number of states below the d-band. These states correspond to those of gas-phase C₂H₄.The vibrational frequencies of C₂H₄ adsorbed on the clusters of D_4h and C_3v symmetry have been calculated. The phonon vibrations occur below 250 cm⁻¹. The intense bands around 200 cm⁻¹ are attributed to stretching vibrations of the Pt-Cu bonds normal to the cluster surface. The stretching vibrations of the Pt-C bonds depend on the local structure of the active site: ν_s(Pt-C) = 268 cm⁻¹ and ν_as(Pt-C) = 357 cm⁻¹ for the cluster of the D_4h symmetry; ν_s(Pt-C) = 335 cm⁻¹ and ν_as(Pt-C) = 397 cm⁻¹ for the cluster of the C_3v symmetry. Bands in the range of 800-3100 cm⁻¹ are attributed to vibrations of the adsorbed C₂H₄ molecule. The signature frequencies of the π-C₂H₄ adsorption complex are the δ_s(CH₂) deformation vibration at ∼1200 cm⁻¹ and the ν(C-C) stretching vibration at ∼1500 cm⁻¹. These vibration are absent for di-σ-C₂H₄ adsorption complexes.     

Density functional theory analysis of reactivity of PtxPdy alloy clusters

We investigate the reactivity of various Pt_xPd_y combinations (with x + y = 10 and various x:y ratios) towards the adsorption of specific intermediates of the oxygen reduction, using the B3PW91 hybrid density functional theory. The reactivity is shown to be not only sensitive to the composition of the cluster, but also to the atomic distribution. The calculations indicate that two different ensembles: one ordered and one randomly mixed, with overall composition Pt₃Pd₇ are thermodynamically more favorable than pure Pt₁₀ for the oxygen reduction reaction. The reasons for this behavior are clearly explained in terms of the atomic and electronic distribution, which makes the Pd atoms to act as electron donors both to Pt atoms and to the adsorbates, thus the reactivity of the Pd atoms in such environment becomes intermediate between Pt and Pd. Moreover, it is found that in a mixed Pt₃Pd₇ state the electronic distribution makes the average atom more similar to Pt than to Pd, whereas in an ordered Pt₃Pd₇ cluster, the average atom is more similar to Pd than to Pt.     

Strong influence of defects on the electronic structure of Pt adatoms and clusters on graphite

We study the specific impact of defects such as step edges at the graphite surface on the electronic configuration of adsorbed Pt atoms and Pt₈ clusters. Surface diffusion is strongly reduced by depositing Pt and Pt₈ into a thin rare gas layer. In this configuration a very narrow adatom Pt 4f spectrum is found at an exceptionally small binding energy, similar to Pt surfaces. Both, adatom and cluster spectra are strongly shifted towards higher binding energy when allowed to diffuse towards defects like step edges. The strong shifts are indicative of a chemical reaction at the step edges and are conjectured to be part of the particle size dependent binding energy shifts typically observed for transition metal clusters grown on the surface of graphite.     

Hydrogen adsorption on Pt-decorated closed-end armchair (3,3), (4,4) and (5,5) single-walled carbon nanotubes

ABSTRACT

Structures of small lengths of capped (3,3), (4,4) and (5,5) single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and their structures decorated by Pt atom and Pt_n clusters (n = 2–4) were obtained using density functional theory calculations. Binding abilities of Pt atom and Pt_n clusters on the outer surface of SWCNTs at various adsorption sites were explored. Adsorptions of H₂ onto Pt atom of the Pt-decorated (3,3), (4,4) and (5,5) SWCNTs were studied and their adsorption energies are reported. The thermodynamic properties and equilibrium constants for H₂ adsorptions on the Pt₄-decorated (3,3), (4,4) and (5,5) SWCNTs were obtained. The adsorption of H₂ on the Pt atom of the Pt₄/(3,3) SWCNT was found to be the most preferred reaction of which enthalpy and free energy changes at room temperature are ?46.61 and ?23.99 kcal/mol, respectively.     

The properties of the Pt6/BaO(1 0 0) interface and NO adsorption at the interface

The properties of the Pt₆/BaO(1 0 0) interface and NO adsorption at the interface are studied using the first-principles methods based on density functional theory. It is found that strong interaction between Pt atoms and surface O atoms is responsible for the stability of the interface. The interaction of NO gas molecule and the Pt₆/BaO(1 0 0) interface showed that the NO molecule prefers to be bound to the Pt atom of the supported Pt cluster with its N-moiety.     

Adsorption site preference of CO2 on the Pt(1 0 0) surface by ab initio calculations

This paper investigates the adsorption sites and electronic structure of the adsorption of CO₂ on the Pt(1 0 0) surface by ab initio periodic density functional theory (DFT) methods. Several parallel and vertical adsorption sites are examined in detail. The results show that the adsorption energy for the atop hollow horizontal (thh) site is 0.34 eV. However, other sites only have small binding energies and these values are very close. For an atop hollow horizontal site, the calculated elecronic interaction is contributed to not only the Pt-O atoms, but also Pt-C atoms. So the results indicate that the thh site is the most favorable and stable.     

Structural stability and electronic properties of Au5Hn (n=1–10) clusters

A systematic study on the geometrical structures, electronic and magnetic properties of Au₅H _n (n=1–10) clusters has been performed by using the all-electron scalar relativistic density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation at the PW91 level. It is found that all Au₅H _n clusters prefer to keep the planar structures like pure Au₅ cluster, the Au₅ structures in Au₅H₄, Au₅H₅ and Au₅H₆ clusters are distorted obviously. The adsorption of a number of hydrogen atoms enhances the stability of Au₅ cluster and all Au₅H _n clusters are more stable than pure Au₅ cluster energetically. The odd-even alteration of magnetic moment is observed in Au₅H _n clusters and may be served as the material with tunable code capacity of “0” and “1” by adsorbing odd or even number of H atoms. It seems that the most favorable adsorption between Au₅ cluster and a number of hydrogen atoms takes place in the case that the odd number of hydrogen atoms is adsorbed onto Au₅ cluster and becomes Au₅H _n cluster with even number of valence electrons.     

Structures of Pt clusters on graphene doped with nitrogen, boron, and silicon: a theoretical study

The structures of Pt clusters on nitrogen-,boron-,silicon-doped graphenes are theoretically studied using densityfunctional theory.These dopants(nitrogen,boron and silicon) each do not induce a local curvature in the graphene and the doped graphenes all retain their planar form.The formation energy of the silicon-graphene system is lower than those of the nitrogen-,boron-doped graphenes,indicating that the silicon atom is easier to incorporate into the graphene.All the substitutional impurities enhance the interaction between the Pt atom and the graphene.The adsorption energy of a Pt adsorbed on the silicon-doped graphene is much higher than those on the nitrogen-and boron-doped graphenes.The doped silicon atom can provide more charges to enhance the Pt-graphene interaction and the formation of Pt clusters each with a large size.The stable structures of Pt clusters on the doped-graphenes are dimeric,triangle and tetrahedron with the increase of the Pt coverage.Of all the studied structures,the tetrahedron is the most stable cluster which has the least influence on the planar surface of doped-graphene.     

Electronic structure and magnetism in (CoPt)n(n⩽5) clusters

The geometrical and magnetic properties of bimetallic clusters (CoPt)_n(1?n?5) have been studied by using the generalized gradient correction spin density formalisms. In general, the ground state structures of (CoPt)_n clusters are the three-dimension structures. We found that both the binding energy and magnetism per (CoPt) unit are increasing consistently with the size of the Co–Pt cluster (n). However, as the n increases, the magnetism shows a trace of convergence while the binding energy shows a linearly increasing pattern. Generally, Co average magnetic moment is enhanced when alloyed with Pt atoms than that in pure Co clusters.     

Surface atomic distribution and water adsorption on Pt-Co alloys

Density functional theory is used to study surface atomic distributions on slabs of PtCo and Pt₃Co overall compositions, as well as water molecule adsorption on PtCo(1 1 1) and Pt-skin structures. Pt-rich surfaces are energetically favored under vacuum in the PtCo and Pt₃Co alloys. The adsorption trend on the studied structures agrees with the d-band model, with stronger adsorption at higher surface Co composition. The most stable adsorption site for a water molecule on PtCo surfaces is on top of Co atoms, with the dipole vector parallel to the surface. This water/surface interaction is as strong as that of water molecule on Pt(1 1 1), whereas bonding to Pt-skin monolayers is found much weaker than that on Pt(1 1 1). It is found that water interacts mainly through its 1b₁ and 3a₁ orbitals with d orbitals of the Pt(1 1 1), PtCo(1 1 1) and Pt-skin surface atoms. Compared to the sum of the electron densities of the separated systems, the electron density of the water/surface gets depleted along O-Pt on Pt-skin surfaces while it becomes richer in the O-Co bonding region of PtCo.     

All-electron scalar relativistic calculation on the interaction between nitric monoxide and small gold cluster

An all-electron scalar relativistic calculation on Au _n NO (n = 1–10) clusters has been performed by using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation at the PW91 level. The small gold cluster would like to bond with nitric and the nitric monoxide molecule prefers to occupy the on-top and single fold coordination site. The Au _n structures in all Au _n NO clusters are only distorted slightly and still keep the planar structures. With the bend of Au-N-O bond, the structures of Au _n NO clusters evolve from the 2D structure to 3D structure. The most favorable adsorption between small gold cluster and nitric monoxide molecule takes place in the case that nitric monoxide molecule is adsorbed onto an odd-numbered pure Au _n cluster and becomes odd-numbered Au _n NO cluster with even number of valence electrons. The scalar relativistic effect strengthens the Au–Au, Au–N interaction and weakens the N–O interaction, appearing as the shorter Au–Au, Au–N bond-length and the longer N–O bond-length. The differences between our work and previous work are believed to be the reflection of the scalar relativistic effect.     

First-principles calculations of the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of BnN20−n (n = 6−18) clusters

The structures of B _n N_20 ? n    (n = 6?18), the clusters of boron nitride, are investigated by the density functional theory calculations. The structures of the obtained low-lying isomers can be described by the following six prototypes: single ring, double ring, three-ring, graphitic-like sheet, fullerene and others. B₁₀N₁₀ is demonstrated to be the most stable cluster against the nonstoichiometric ones. Nonzero magnetic moments, 1.999, 1.998, 2.000, 3.999 and 1.999μ _B respectively, are found in five B _n N_20?n (n = 6, 7, 11, 12, 13) clusters. Further analysis indicates that the magnetic moment of the B₆N₁₄ cluster is mainly originated from the N atoms, while those of others are from the B atoms. The magnetic moment are finally attributed to the interesting issues of the 2p electrons due to the breaking of local symmetries, the change of coordination number, charge distribution and orbital hybridization.     

Ab initio study of formation, migration and binding properties of helium-vacancy clusters in aluminum

Ab initio calculations based on density functional theory have been performed to study the dissolution and migration of helium, and the stability of small helium-vacancy clusters He_nV_m (n, m=0-4) in aluminum. The results indicate that the octahedral configuration is more stable than the tetrahedral. Interstitial helium atoms are predicted to have attractive interactions and jump between two octahedral sites via an intermediate tetrahedral site with low migration energy. The binding energies of an interstitial He atom and an isolated vacancy to a He_nV_m cluster are also obtained from the calculated formation energies of the clusters. We find that the di- and tri-vacancy clusters are not stable, but He atoms can increase the stability of vacancy clusters.