CO Adsorption-Induced Surface Segregation and Formation of Pd Chains on AuPd(100) Alloy: Density Functional Theory Based Ising Model and Monte Carlo Simulations

Abstract

In order to study how adsorption of CO molecules changes the surface composition of AuPd alloys, we develop a theoretical methodology which is able to take this effect into account. An Ising model based on density functional theory calculations is derived to define interatomic potentials that describe metal–metal, metal–CO, and CO–CO interactions. Then, through the use of Monte Carlo simulations within the semi-grand canonical ensemble, the effect of adsorption-induced segregation for the AuPd(100) surface is well-reproduced for different temperatures and CO pressures. Segregation isotherms identify a Pd surface enrichment for low CO pressures, and CO surface saturation is reached at an intermediate coverage of θ = 0.5 ML. Furthermore, Pd chains induced by an ordering of adsorbed CO molecules appear at low temperature and intermediate CO pressures. These chains are the result of a competitive effect between CO–CO repulsions and metal–CO interactions.