Theoretical Investigation of Carbon Atom Adsorption and Diffusion on the Surfaces of Cu

Abstract

The adsorption and diffusion of carbon atom on Cu (111) and (100) surfaces have been investigated based on first-principles density-functional theory. For Cu (111) surface, the hexagonal close-packed and face-centered cubic sites are the most stable sites with little energy difference in the adsorption energy. For Cu (100) surface, the hollow site is the most stable. There is charge transfer from Cu surface to the adsorbed carbon atom. Moreover, the diffusions of carbon atom on Cu surfaces have been investigated, and the results show that the diffusion of carbon atom prefers to happen on Cu (111) surface.