Water-gas-shift over metal-free nanocrystalline ceria: an experimental and theoretical study

A tandem experimental and theoretical investigation of a mesoporous ceria catalyst reveals the properties of the metal oxide are conducive for activity typically ascribed to metals, suggesting reduced Ce3+ and oxygen vacancies are responsible for the inherent bi-functionality of CO oxidation and dissociation of water required for facilitating the production of H-2. The degree of reduction of the ceria, specifically the (100) face, is found to significantly influence the binding of reagents, suggesting reduced surfaces harbor the necessary reactive sites. The metal-free catalysis of the reaction is significant for catalyst design considerations, and the suite of in situ analyses provides a comprehensive study of the dynamic nature of the high surface area catalyst system. This study postulates feasible improvements in catalytic activity may redirect the purpose of the water-gas shift reaction from CO purification to primary hydrogen production.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

The atomic simulation environment — a python library for working with atoms

The Atomic Simulation Environment (ASE) is a software package written in the Python programming language with the aim of setting up, steering, and analyzing atomistic simula- tions. In ASE, tasks are fully scripted in Python. The powerful syntax of Python combined with the NumPy array library make it possible to perform very complex simulation tasks. For example, a sequence of calculations may be performed with the use of a simple "for-loop" construction. Calculations of energy, forces, stresses and other quantities are performed through interfaces to many external electronic structure codes or force fields using a uniform interface. On top of this calculator interface, ASE provides modules for performing many standard simulation tasks such as structure optimization, molecular dynamics, handling of constraints and performing nudged elastic band calculations

Study of Alkylthiolate Self-Assembled Monolayers on Au(111) using a Semilocal meta-GGA Density Functional

We present a density functional theory study of the structure and stability of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkylthiolate on Au(111) as a function of the alkyl chain length. The most favorable structure of the SAMs involves an RS−Au−SR complex (S being sulfur, R being an alkyl chain) formed through sandwiching one Au adatom by two alkylthiolates (RSs). Comparing a generalized gradient (GGA-PBE) and a meta-GGA (MGGA-M06-L) exchange-correlation functional we find that only the meta-GGA functional predicts the experimentally observed attractive intermolecular interactions within the SAMs. In particular, the use of M06-L yields an increased stability of the SAMs with increasing alkyl chain length and an increased attractive interaction between RS−Au−SR complexes at shorter distances

CO Intercalation of Graphene on Ir(111) in the Millibar Regime

Here we show that it is possible to intercalate CO under graphene grown on Ir(111) already at room temperature when CO pressures in the millibar regime are used. From the interplay of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy we conclude that the intercalated CO adsorption structure is similar to the (3 root 3 X 3 root 3)R30 degrees) adsorption structure that is formed on Ir(111) upon exposure to similar to 1 mbar of CO. Further, density functional theory calculations reveal that the structural and electronic properties of CO-intercalated graphene are similar to p-doped freestanding graphene. Finally we characterize nonintercalated stripes and islands that we always observe in the CO-intercalated graphene. We observe these nonintercalated areas predominately in HCP and FCC areas near step edges and suggest that stress release in graphene is the driving force for their formation, while the weak chemical bonds in HCP and FCC areas are the reason for their area selectivity

Linear hydrogen adsorbate structures on graphite induced by self-assembled molecular monolayers

Combined scanning tunnelling microscopy measurements and density functional theory calculations reveal a method to induce linear structures of hydrogen adsorbates on graphite by covering the surface with a self-assembled molecular monolayer of cyanuric acid and exposing it to atomic hydrogen. The method can in principle be applied to obtain nanopattemed hydrogen structures on free standing graphene and graphene laid down on insulating substrates, hereby opening up for the possibility of substrate independent bandgap engineering of graphene. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Linear hydrogen adsorbate structures on graphite induced by self-assembled molecular monolayers

Combined scanning tunnelling microscopy measurements and density functional theory calculations reveal a method to induce linear structures of hydrogen adsorbates on graphite by covering the surface with a self-assembled molecular monolayer of cyanuric acid and exposing it to atomic hydrogen. The method can in principle be applied to obtain nanopattemed hydrogen structures on free standing graphene and graphene laid down on insulating substrates, hereby opening up for the possibility of substrate independent bandgap engineering of graphene. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved