A perturbation theory study of H2 on LiF(0 0 1)

In response to recent helium atom scattering (HAS) results, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and perturbation theory have been performed for H₂ on LiF(0 0 1). MC simulations predict that H₂ molecules form a series of structures, p(2 × 2), p(8 × 2), p(4 × 2) with coverages Θ = 0.5, 0.625 and 0.75, respectively, that are stable up to 8 K. This is in partial agreement with the HAS results that report c(2 × 2) and c(8 × 2) structures; they agree in terms of coverage and stability, but disagree in terms of symmetry. To reconcile the results of the simulations and experiments, the orientation of the adsorbed H₂ molecules was studied using perturbation theory. These calculations show that the adsorbed H₂ molecules are azimuthally delocalized and that the structures are c-type rather then p-type. The calculations also indicate that p-H₂ and helicoptering o-H₂ prefer cationic sites, while cartwheeling o-H₂ prefers anionic sites.