Theoretical Studies of the Atomic and Electronic Structure of Mercury/Aluminium Oxide Interface

Abstract

Density-functional theory (DFT) theory is conducted for the structural and electronic features at the Hg/Al2O3 interface by the analysis of optimal structural geometry, partial density of states (PDOS) and difference charge density. The two adsorption sites of on-top and hollow locations according to the symmetry is adopted to construct the associated interfacial models between Hg atom and free surface. The calculated studies show that the oxygen atoms near Hg atom in the Al2O3 surface, for both on-top and hollow sites, have the gathering effect by shifting toward Hg atom. But their interacting electrons at the interface exhibit different statues in terms of the PDOS analysis that there have no evolution tendency to form the bond between associated O and Hg atoms at the on-top site; and the occurrence of Hg-5d and O-2p overlapping orbitals reveals the strong covalent bond existed at the interface. The PDOS curves show that Al atom in the surface is not liable to contribute to the formation of corresponding bonds by mixing its electrons with Hg atom. Meanwhile, the calculated results derived from difference charge density are in good agreement with the PDOS analysis. The calculated results support some advanced atomic investigation on design a new sorbent refined from fly gas, especially improving the mercury removal from the flue gas.