First Principles Calculations of the Chemisorption Properties of Nitro-Containing Molecules on the Al2O3(0001) Surface
Abstract
First-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) have been used to study the adsorption of nitromethane (NM) and 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene (FOX7) molecules on the basal plane of alpha-Al2O3 crystal. The calculations employ a (2x2) supercell slab model and 3D periodic boundary conditions. Based on these calculations we have determined that both NM and FOX7 molecules can adsorb nondissociatively on the surface, with the most stable adsorption configurations parallel to the surface. The corresponding binding energies are found in the range 25.3-26.0 kcal/mol for NM and 35.6-48.3 kcal/mol for FOX-7 depending on the relative molecular orientation and the corresponding surface sites. The minimum energy pathways for NM dissociation have been determined and a low energy pathway leading to H elimination with formation of adsorbed CH2NO2 and hydroxyl species has been identified. Additional calculations have focused on adsorption properties of aci-nitromethane tautomers and on description of the energetic pathways connecting adsorbed nitromethane molecule with these tautomers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADP023820
Entities
People
- Dan C. Sorescu
- Donald L. Thompson
- Jerry A. Boatz
Organizations
- United States Department of Energy