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A first principles study on the electronic origins of silver segregation at the Ag-Au (111) surface
Publikationstyp
Journal Article
Date Issued
2017-12-21
Sprache
English
Author(s)
TORE-URI
Journal
Volume
122
Issue
23
Article Number
235303
Citation
Journal of Applied Physics 23 (122) : 235303 (2017-12-21)
Publisher DOI
Scopus ID
The special electronic structure of gold gives rise to many interesting phenomena, such as its color. The surface segregation of the silver-gold system has been the subject of numerous experimental and theoretical studies, yielding conflicting results ranging from strong Ag surface enrichment to Au surface segregation. Via a combined approach of density functional theory (DFT) and statistical physics, we have analyzed the segregation at the Ag-Au (111) surface with different Ag bulk concentrations. Interestingly, we observe a moderate Au surface segregation, which is due to a charge transfer from the less electronegative Ag to Au. Canonical Monte Carlo simulations suggest that the calculated concentration profile with a Au-enriched surface layer remains stable up to higher temperatures. However, the presence of adsorbed oxygen reverses the segregation behavior and leads to strong Ag enrichment of the surface layer.