Initial steps toward Auad island nucleation on a c(2 × 2)-Cl Au(001) surface investigated by DFT.

Density functional theory calculations are reported that elucidate the initial steps toward Au ad-island nucleation on c(2 × 2)-Cl covered Au(001) surfaces, which is relevant for Au electrodeposition in Cl- containing electrolytes. The atomic geometry of (Auad)n adatom structures for n ≤ 4, as well as their stability as a function of Cl chemical potential, has been determined. The electrolyte, however, has not been accounted for in the computation. We find a weakly bonded (AuadCl2)-chain as the most stable structure in the case of Cl chemical potentials such that Cl vacancies are suppressed. In the range of Cl chemical potential, where Cl vacancies occur in equilibrium and bind to an (modified) Auad induced ad-structure, the formation of a dimer from two monomers is accompanied by an energy gain between 0.06 and 0.23 eV. For Auad trimer and tetramer formation, the calculations suggest a similar tendency. This suggests that on c(2 × 2)-Cl covered Au(001) surfaces, the Au ad-island nucleation is supported by the presence of vacancies in the Cl adlayer.

Coadsorbate-Induced Reversal of Solid-Liquid Interface Dynamics.

Coadsorbed anions are well-known to influence surface reactivity and dynamics at solid-liquid interfaces. Here we demonstrate that the chemical nature of these spectator species can entirely determine the microscopic dynamic behavior. Quantitative in situ video-STM data on the surface diffusion of adsorbed sulfur atoms on Cu(100) electrodes in aqueous solution covered by bromide and chloride spectators, respectively, reveal in both cases a strong exponential potential dependence, but with opposite sign. This reversal is highly surprising in view of the isostructural adsorbate arrangement in the two systems. Detailed DFT studies suggest an anion-induced difference in the sulfur diffusion mechanism, specifically an exchange diffusion on the Br-covered surface. Experimental evidence for the latter is provided by the observation of Cu vacancy formation in the Br system, which can be rationalized by a side reaction of the sulfur exchange diffusion.

Electronic energy dissipation during scattering of vibrationally excited molecules at metal surfaces: ab initio simulations for HCl/Al(111).

In this Letter, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations based on time-dependent density functional theory for the electrons and Ehrenfest dynamics for the nuclei are reported that detail the interaction of a vibrating HCl molecule with an Al(111) substrate. The mechanism responsible for the strong electron-hole-pair (EHP)-vibrational coupling in case of highly vibrationally excited molecules is traced back to a large eigenenergy shift of the spz*-like antibonding HCl lowest unoccupied molecular orbital with the bond length. As a consequence of this mechanism, the electronic excitation spectra turn out to be highly asymmetric. The simulations suggest an explanation of how to reconcile a strong EHP-vibrational coupling in case of highly vibrationally excited molecules with the small, but clearly evident, electronic contribution to the v=0 → v=1 vibrational excitation observed experimentally during the scattering of HCl molecules at a hot Au surface by Ran et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 98 237601 (2007)].

"Magic" vicinal zinc oxide surfaces.

The structure of (0001) oriented ZnO single crystal surfaces is investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy. Depending on the preparation conditions, faceting of the crystals into large areas of {101¯4} surface orientation occurs. This restructuring of the surface is shown to be a consequence of dipole compensation and charge neutralization. A new stabilization mechanism of polar oxide surfaces is found which is based on the formation of vicinal surfaces with special electronic and structural properties.