Binding energy calculations for metal aggregates

Within the framework of the local density functional formalism the binding energies of atoms in metallic aggregates are computed. The calculations are based on the following approach: The total charge density is approximated by the superposition of the charge densities of the respective free atoms. The kinetic energy is obtained by a modified Thomas-Fermi-Weizsäcker expression, and the exchange/correlation energy is determined by theX -approximation. As a first example of application we have calculated the adsorption energies of Cu and Pd on tungsten and the formation energy of a vacancy in pure copper and in copper with Ge impurities. The results are in fair agreement with the respective experimental data.