First-principles study of adsorption, diffusion, and charge stability of metal adatoms on alkali halide surfaces

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Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
School of Science | A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
Date
2008
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
045418/1-8
Series
Physical Review B, Volume 78, Issue 4
Abstract
In this work we have performed first-principles calculations based on the spin-polarized density-functional theory for the adsorption and diffusion of Au, Ag, and Pb atoms on NaCl(001), KCl(001), and KBr(001) surfaces. We consider also the influence of adatom charge on the adsorption and diffusion. In order to characterize the different systems we explicitly calculate charge transfer between surface and adatom and consider the relative stability of the various charge states. Our results show that in general, apart from positively charged systems, the adatoms are weakly bound to the surface via orbital polarization and ionic interactions, and relatively little charge transfer occurs. Au and Ag adatoms are highly mobile on all surfaces, although they can be pinned by removal of an electron. In contrast, Pb adatoms are fairly immobile, and their mobility increases upon charging. Analysis of the charge stability suggests that Ag offers the potential of charge controlled mobility on insulators.
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Keywords
metal adatoms, insulators, diffusion, mobility
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Citation
Hakala, M. H. & Pakarinen, O. H. & Foster, Adam S.. 2008. First-principles study of adsorption, diffusion, and charge stability of metal adatoms on alkali halide surfaces. Physical Review B. Volume 78, Issue 4. 045418/1-8. ISSN 1550-235X (electronic). DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.78.045418.