@article{HaenselBartaRietzeetal.2018, author = {H{\"a}nsel, Marc and Barta, Christoph and Rietze, Clemens and Utecht, Manuel Martin and Rueck-Braun, Karola and Saalfrank, Peter and Tegeder, Petra}, title = {Two-Dimensional Nonlinear Optical Switching Materials}, series = {The journal of physical chemistry : C, Nanomaterials and interfaces}, volume = {122}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry : C, Nanomaterials and interfaces}, number = {44}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1932-7447}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpcc.8b08212}, pages = {25555 -- 25564}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Combining photochromism and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of molecular switches-functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) represents a promising concept toward novel photonic and optoelectronic devices. Using second harmonic generation, density functional theory, and correlated wave function methods, we studied the switching abilities as well as the NLO contrasts between different molecular states of various fulgimide-containing SAMs on Si(111). Controlled variations of the linker systems as well as of the fulgimides enabled us to demonstrate very efficient reversible photoinduced ring-opening/closure reactions between the open and closed forms of the fulgimides. Thus, effective cross sections on the order of 10(-18) cm(-2) are observed. Moreover, the reversible switching is accompanied by pronounced NLO contrasts up to 32\%. Further molecular engineering of the photochromic switches and the linker systems may even increase the NLO contrast upon switching.}, language = {en} } @article{MelaniNagataSaalfrank2021, author = {Melani, Giacomo and Nagata, Yuki and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Vibrational energy relaxation of interfacial OH on a water-covered alpha-Al2O3(0001) surface}, series = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : PCCP ; a journal of European chemical societies}, volume = {23}, journal = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : PCCP ; a journal of European chemical societies}, number = {13}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1463-9076}, doi = {10.1039/d0cp03777j}, pages = {7714 -- 7723}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Vibrational relaxation of adsorbates is a sensitive tool to probe energy transfer at gas/solid and liquid/solid interfaces. The most direct way to study relaxation dynamics uses time-resolved spectroscopy. Here we report on a non-equilibrium ab initio molecular dynamics (NE-AIMD) methodology to model vibrational relaxation of OH vibrations on a hydroxylated, water-covered alpha-Al2O3(0001) surface. In our NE-AIMD approach, after exciting selected O-H bonds their coupling to surface phonons and to the water adlayer is analyzed in detail, by following both the energy flow in time, as well as the time-evolution of Vibrational Density of States (VDOS) curves. The latter are obtained from Time-dependent Correlation Functions (TCFs) and serve as prototypical, generic representatives of time-resolved vibrational spectra. As most important results, (i) we find a few-picosecond lifetime of the excited modes and (ii) identify both hydrogen-bonded aluminols and water molecules in the adsorbed water layer as main dissipative channels, while the direct coupling to Al2O3 surface phonons is of minor importance on the timescales of interest. Our NE-AIMD/TCF methodology is powerful for complex adsorbate systems, in principle even reacting ones, and opens a way towards time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy.}, language = {en} } @article{SaalfrankJuaristiAlducinetal.2014, author = {Saalfrank, Peter and Juaristi, J. I. and Alducin, Maite and Blanco-Rey, Maria and Muino, R. Diez}, title = {Vibrational lifetimes of hydrogen on lead films : an ab initio molecular dynamics with electronic friction (AIMDEF) study}, series = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr}, volume = {141}, journal = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr}, number = {23}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0021-9606}, doi = {10.1063/1.4903309}, pages = {11}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Using density functional theory and Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics with Electronic Friction (AIMDEF), we study the adsorption and dissipative vibrational dynamics of hydrogen atoms chemisorbed on free-standing lead films of increasing thickness. Lead films are known for their oscillatory behaviour of certain properties with increasing thickness, e.g., energy and electron spill-out change in discontinuous manner, due to quantum size effects [G. Materzanini, P. Saalfrank, and P.J.D. Lindan, Phys. Rev. B 63, 235405 (2001)]. Here, we demonstrate that oscillatory features arise also for hydrogen when chemisorbed on lead films. Besides stationary properties of the adsorbate, we concentrate on finite vibrational lifetimes of H-surface vibrations. As shown by AIMDEF, the damping via vibration-electron hole pair coupling dominates clearly over the vibration-phonon channel, in particular for high-frequency modes. Vibrational relaxation times are a characteristic function of layer thickness due to the oscillating behaviour of the embedding surface electronic density. Implications derived from AIMDEF for frictional many-atom dynamics, and physisorbed species will also be given. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.}, language = {en} } @article{ScholzLindnerLoncaricetal.2019, author = {Scholz, Robert and Lindner, Steven and Loncaric, Ivor and Tremblay, Jean Christophe and Juaristi, J. and Alducin, Maite and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Vibrational response and motion of carbon monoxide on Cu(100) driven by femtosecond laser pulses: Molecular dynamics with electronic friction}, series = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, volume = {100}, journal = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, number = {24}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2469-9950}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.100.245431}, pages = {20}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Carbon monoxide on copper surfaces continues to be a fascinating, rich microlab for many questions evolving in surface science. Recently, hot-electron mediated, femtosecond-laser pulse induced dynamics of CO molecules on Cu(100) were the focus of experiments [Inoue et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 186101 (2016)] and theory [Novko et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 016806 (2019)], unraveling details of the vibrational nonequilibrium dynamics on ultrashort (subpicoseconds) timescales. In the present work, full-dimensional time-resolved hot-electron driven dynamics are studied by molecular dynamics with electronic friction (MDEF). Dissipation is included by a friction term in a Langevin equation which describes the coupling of molecular degrees of freedom to electron-hole pairs in the copper surface, calculated from gradient-corrected density functional theory (DFT) via a local density friction approximation (LDFA). Relaxation due to surface phonons is included by a generalized Langevin oscillator model. The hot-electron induced excitation is described via a time-dependent electronic temperature, the latter derived from an improved two-temperature model. Our parameter-free simulations on a precomputed potential energy surface allow for excellent statistics, and the observed trends are confirmed by on-the-fly ab initio molecular dynamics with electronic friction (AIMDEF) calculations. By computing time-resolved frequency maps for selected molecular vibrations, instantaneous frequencies, probability distributions, and correlation functions, we gain microscopic insight into hot-electron driven dynamics and we can relate the time evolution of vibrational internal CO stretch-mode frequencies to measured data, notably an observed redshift. Quantitatively, the latter is found to be larger in MDEF than in experiment and possible reasons are discussed for this observation. In our model, in addition we observe the excitation and time evolution of large-amplitude low-frequency modes, lateral CO surface diffusion, and molecular desorption. Effects of surface atom motion and of the laser fluence are also discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{MelaniNagataCampenetal.2019, author = {Melani, Giacomo and Nagata, Yuki and Campen, Richard Kramer and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Vibrational spectra of dissociatively adsorbed D2O on Al-terminated alpha-Al2O3(0001) surfaces from ab initio molecular dynamics}, series = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr}, volume = {150}, journal = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr}, number = {24}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0021-9606}, doi = {10.1063/1.5099895}, pages = {15}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Water can adsorb molecularly or dissociatively onto different sites of metal oxide surfaces. These adsorption sites can be disentangled using surface-sensitive vibrational spectroscopy. Here, we model Vibrational Sum Frequency (VSF) spectra for various forms of dissociated, deuterated water on a reconstructed, Al-terminated α-Al2O3(0001) surface at submonolayer coverages (the so-called 1-2, 1-4, and 1-4′ modes). Using an efficient scheme based on velocity-velocity autocorrelation functions, we go beyond previous normal mode analyses by including anharmonicity, mode coupling, and thermal surface motion in the framework of ab initio molecular dynamics. In this way, we calculate vibrational density of states curves, infrared, and VSF spectra. Comparing computed VSF spectra with measured ones, we find that relative frequencies of resonances are in quite good agreement and linewidths are reasonably well represented, while VSF intensities coincide not well. We argue that intensities are sensitively affected by local interactions and thermal fluctuations, even at such low coverage, while absolute peak positions strongly depend on the choice of the electronic structure method and on the appropriate inclusion of anharmonicity.}, language = {en} } @article{MelaniNagataWirthetal.2018, author = {Melani, Giacomo and Nagata, Yuki and Wirth, Jonas and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Vibrational spectroscopy of hydroxylated alpha-Al2O3(0001) surfaces with and without water}, series = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr}, volume = {149}, journal = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr}, number = {1}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0021-9606}, doi = {10.1063/1.5023347}, pages = {10}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Using gradient- and dispersion-corrected density functional theory in connection with ab initio molecular dynamics and efficient, parametrized Velocity-Velocity Autocorrelation Function (VVAF) methodology, we study the vibrational spectra (Vibrational Sum Frequency, VSF, and infrared, IR) of hydroxylated alpha-Al2O3(0001) surfaces with and without additional water. Specifically, by considering a naked hydroxylated surface and the same surface with a particularly stable, "ice-like" hexagonal water later allows us to identify and disentangle main spectroscopic bands of OH bonds, their orientation and dynamics, and the role of water adsorption. In particular, we assign spectroscopic signals around 3700 cm(-1) as being dominated by perpendicularly oriented non-hydrogen bonded aluminol groups, with and without additional water. Furthermore, the thin water layer gives spectroscopic signals which are already comparable to previous theoretical and experimental findings for the solid/(bulk) liquid interface, showing that water molecules closest to the surface play a decisive role in the vibrational response of these systems. From a methodological point of view, the effects of temperature, anharmonicity, hydrogen-bonding, and structural dynamics are taken into account and analyzed, allowing us to compare the calculated IR and VSF spectra with the ones based on normal mode analysis and vibrational density of states. The VVAF approach employed in this work appears to be a computationally accurate yet feasible method to address the vibrational fingerprints and dynamical properties of water/metal oxide interfaces. Published by AIP Publishing.}, language = {en} } @article{XiongSaalfrank2019, author = {Xiong, Tao and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Vibrationally Broadened Optical Spectra of Selected Radicals and Cations Derived from Adamantane: A Time-Dependent Correlation Function Approach}, series = {The journal of physical chemistry : A, Molecules, spectroscopy, kinetics, environment \& general theory}, volume = {123}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry : A, Molecules, spectroscopy, kinetics, environment \& general theory}, number = {41}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1089-5639}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpca.9b03305}, pages = {8871 -- 8880}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Diamondoids are hydrogen-saturated molecular motifs cut out of diamond, forming a class of materials with tunable optoelectronic properties. In this work, we extend previous work on neutral, closed-shell diamondoids by computing with hybrid density functional theory and time-dependent correlation functions vibrationally broadened absorption spectra of cations and radicals derived from the simplest diamondoid, adamantane, namely, the neutral 1- and 2-adamantyl radicals (C10H15), the 1- and 2-adamantyl cations (C10H15+), and the adamantane radical cation (C10H16+). For selected cases, we also report vibrationally broadened emission, photoelectron, and resonance Raman spectra. Furthermore, the effect of the damping factor on the vibrational fine-structure is studied. The following trends are found: (1) Low-energy absorptions of the adamantyl radicals and cations, and of the adamantane cation, are all strongly red-shifted with respect to adamantane; (2) also, emission spectra are strongly red-shifted, whereas photoelectron spectra are less affected for the cases studied; (3) vibrational fine-structures are reduced compared to those of adamantane; (4) the spectroscopic signals of 1- and 2-adamantyl species are significantly different from each other; and (5) reducing the damping factor has only a limited effect on the vibrational fine-structure in most cases. This suggests that removing hydrogen atoms and/or electrons from adamantane leads to new optoelectronic properties, which should be detectable by vibronic spectroscopy.}, language = {en} } @article{XiongWlodarczykSaalfrank2018, author = {Xiong, Tao and Wlodarczyk, Radoslaw and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Vibrationally resolved absorption and fluorescence spectra of perylene and N-substituted derivatives from autocorrelation function approaches}, series = {Chemical physics : a journal devoted to experimental and theoretical research involving problems of both a chemical and physical nature}, volume = {515}, journal = {Chemical physics : a journal devoted to experimental and theoretical research involving problems of both a chemical and physical nature}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0301-0104}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemphys.2018.06.011}, pages = {728 -- 736}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Vibrationally resolved absorption and emission (fluorescence) spectra of perylene and its N-derivatives in gas phase and in solution (acetonitrile) were simulated using a time-dependent approach based on correlation functions determined by density functional theory. By systematically varying the number and position of N atoms, it is shown that the presence of nitrogen heteroatoms has a negligible effect on the molecular structure and geometric distortions upon electronic transitions, while spectral properties change: in particular the number of N atoms is important while their position is less decisive. Thus, the N-substitution can be used to fine-tune the optical properties of perylene-based molecules.}, language = {en} } @misc{BanerjeeSaalfrank2013, author = {Banerjee, Shiladitya and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Vibrationally resolved absorption, emission and resonance Raman spectra of diamondoids}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-94542}, pages = {144 -- 158}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The time-dependent approach to electronic spectroscopy, as popularized by Heller and coworkers in the 1980's, is applied here in conjunction with linear-response, time-dependent density functional theory to study vibronic absorption, emission and resonance Raman spectra of several diamondoids. Two-state models, the harmonic and the Condon approximations, are used for the calculations, making them easily applicable to larger molecules. The method is applied to nine pristine lower and higher diamondoids: adamantane, diamantane, triamantane, and three isomers each of tetramantane and pentamantane. We also consider a hybrid species "Dia = Dia" - a shorthand notation for a recently synthesized molecule comprising two diamantane units connected by a C[double bond, length as m-dash]C double bond. We resolve and interpret trends in optical and vibrational properties of these molecules as a function of their size, shape, and symmetry, as well as effects of "blending" with sp2-hybridized C-atoms. Time-dependent correlation functions facilitate the computations and shed light on the vibrational dynamics following electronic transitions.}, language = {en} } @article{BanerjeeSaalfrank2014, author = {Banerjee, Shiladitya and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Vibrationally resolved absorption, emission and resonance Raman spectra of diamondoids : a study based on time- dependent correlation functions}, doi = {10.1039/C3CP53535E}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{BanerjeeSaalfrank2014, author = {Banerjee, Shiladitya and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Vibrationally resolved absorption, emission and resonance Raman spectra of diamondoids: a study based on time-dependent correlation functions}, series = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies}, volume = {16}, journal = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies}, number = {1}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1463-9076}, doi = {10.1039/c3cp53535e}, pages = {144 -- 158}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{BanerjeeStuekerSaalfrank2015, author = {Banerjee, Shiladitya and Stueker, Tony and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Vibrationally resolved optical spectra of modified diamondoids obtained from time-dependent correlation function methods}, series = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies}, volume = {17}, journal = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies}, number = {29}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1463-9076}, doi = {10.1039/c5cp02615f}, pages = {19656 -- 19669}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Optical properties of modified diamondoids have been studied theoretically using vibrationally resolved electronic absorption, emission and resonance Raman spectra. A time-dependent correlation function approach has been used for electronic two-state models, comprising a ground state (g) and a bright, excited state (e), the latter determined from linear-response, time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The harmonic and Condon approximations were adopted. In most cases origin shifts, frequency alteration and Duschinsky rotation in excited states were considered. For other cases where no excited state geometry optimization and normal mode analysis were possible or desired, a short-time approximation was used. The optical properties and spectra have been computed for (i) a set of recently synthesized sp(2)/sp(3) hybrid species with CQC double-bond connected saturated diamondoid subunits, (ii) functionalized (mostly by thiol or thione groups) diamondoids and (iii) urotropine and other C-substituted diamondoids. The ultimate goal is to tailor optical and electronic features of diamondoids by electronic blending, functionalization and substitution, based on a molecular-level understanding of the ongoing photophysics.}, language = {en} } @misc{BanerjeeStuekerSaalfrank2015, author = {Banerjee, Shiladitya and St{\"u}ker, Tony and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Vibrationally resolved optical spectra of modified diamondoids obtained from time-dependent correlation function methods}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-86826}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Optical properties of modified diamondoids have been studied theoretically using vibrationally resolved electronic absorption, emission and resonance Raman spectra. A time-dependent correlation function approach has been used for electronic two-state models, comprising a ground state (g) and a bright, excited state (e), the latter determined from linear-response, time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The harmonic and Condon approximations were adopted. In most cases origin shifts, frequency alteration and Duschinsky rotation in excited states were considered. For other cases where no excited state geometry optimization and normal mode analysis were possible or desired, a short-time approximation was used. The optical properties and spectra have been computed for (i) a set of recently synthesized sp2/sp3 hybrid species with C[double bond, length as m-dash]C double-bond connected saturated diamondoid subunits, (ii) functionalized (mostly by thiol or thione groups) diamondoids and (iii) urotropine and other C-substituted diamondoids. The ultimate goal is to tailor optical and electronic features of diamondoids by electronic blending, functionalization and substitution, based on a molecular-level understanding of the ongoing photophysics.}, language = {en} } @article{BanerjeeStuekerSaalfrank2015, author = {Banerjee, Shiladitya and St{\"u}ker, Tony and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Vibrationally resolved optical spectra of modified diamondoids obtained from time-dependent correlation function methods}, series = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : PCCP ; a journal of European chemical societies}, volume = {17}, journal = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : PCCP ; a journal of European chemical societies}, number = {29}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1463-9084}, doi = {10.1039/C5CP02615F}, pages = {19656 -- 19669}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Optical properties of modified diamondoids have been studied theoretically using vibrationally resolved electronic absorption, emission and resonance Raman spectra. A time-dependent correlation function approach has been used for electronic two-state models, comprising a ground state (g) and a bright, excited state (e), the latter determined from linear-response, time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The harmonic and Condon approximations were adopted. In most cases origin shifts, frequency alteration and Duschinsky rotation in excited states were considered. For other cases where no excited state geometry optimization and normal mode analysis were possible or desired, a short-time approximation was used. The optical properties and spectra have been computed for (i) a set of recently synthesized sp2/sp3 hybrid species with C[double bond, length as m-dash]C double-bond connected saturated diamondoid subunits, (ii) functionalized (mostly by thiol or thione groups) diamondoids and (iii) urotropine and other C-substituted diamondoids. The ultimate goal is to tailor optical and electronic features of diamondoids by electronic blending, functionalization and substitution, based on a molecular-level understanding of the ongoing photophysics.}, language = {en} } @article{XiongWłodarczykGallandietal.2018, author = {Xiong, Tao and Włodarczyk, Radosław Stanisław and Gallandi, Lukas and K{\"o}rzd{\"o}rfer, Thomas and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectra of lower diamondoids}, series = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistry}, volume = {148}, journal = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistry}, number = {4}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0021-9606}, doi = {10.1063/1.5012131}, pages = {9}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Vibrationally resolved lowest-energy bands of the photoelectron spectra (PES) of adamantane, diamantane, and urotropine were simulated by a time-dependent correlation function approach within the harmonic approximation. Geometries and normal modes for neutral and cationic molecules were obtained from B3LYP hybrid density functional theory (DFT). It is shown that the simulated spectra reproduce the experimentally observed vibrational finestructure (or its absence) quite well. Origins of the finestructure are discussed and related to recurrences of autocorrelation functions and dominant vibrations. Remaining quantitative and qualitative errors of the DFT-derived PES spectra refer to (i) an overall redshift by ∼0.5 eV and (ii) the absence of satellites in the high-energy region of the spectra. The former error is shown to be due to the neglect of many-body corrections to ordinary Kohn-Sham methods, while the latter has been argued to be due to electron-nuclear couplings beyond the Born-Oppenheimer approximation [Gali et al., Nat. Commun. 7, 11327 (2016)].}, language = {en} } @article{HeidenYueKirschetal.2018, author = {Heiden, Sophia and Yue, Yanhua and Kirsch, Harald and Wirth, Jonas A. and Saalfrank, Peter and Campen, Richard Kramer}, title = {Water dissociative adsorption on α-Al2O3(112̅0) is controlled by surface site undercoordination, density, and topology}, series = {The journal of physical chemistry / publ. weekly by the American Chemical Society : C, Nanomaterials and interfaces}, volume = {122}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry / publ. weekly by the American Chemical Society : C, Nanomaterials and interfaces}, number = {12}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1932-7447}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b10410}, pages = {6573 -- 6584}, year = {2018}, abstract = {α-Al2O3 surfaces are common in a wide variety of applications and useful models of more complicated, environmentally abundant, alumino-silicate surfaces. While decades of work have clarified that all properties of these surfaces depend sensitively on the crystal face and the presence of even small amounts of water, quantitative insight into this dependence has proven challenging. Overcoming this challenge requires systematic study of the mechanism by which water interacts with various α-Al2O3 surfaces. Such insight is most easily gained for the interaction of small amounts of water with surfaces in ultra high vacuum. In this study, we continue our combined theoretical and experimental approach to this problem, previously applied to water interaction with the α-Al2O3 (0001) and (11̅02) surfaces, now to water interaction with the third most stable surface, that is, the (112̅0). Because we characterize all three surfaces using similar tools, it is straightforward to conclude that the (112̅0) is most reactive with water. The most important factor explaining its increased reactivity is that the high density of undercoordinated surface Al atoms on the (112̅0) surface allows the bidentate adsorption of OH fragments originating from dissociatively adsorbed water, while only monodentate adsorption is possible on the (0001) and (11̅02) surfaces: the reactivity of α-Al2O3 surfaces with water depends strongly, and nonlinearly, on the density of undercoordinated surface Al atoms.}, language = {en} } @article{HeidenWirthCampenetal.2018, author = {Heiden, Sophia and Wirth, Jonas and Campen, Richard Kramer and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Water molecular beam scattering at alpha-Al2O3(0001)}, series = {The journal of physical chemistry : C, Nanomaterials and interfaces}, volume = {122}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry : C, Nanomaterials and interfaces}, number = {27}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1932-7447}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpcc.8b04179}, pages = {15494 -- 15504}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Recent molecular beam experiments have shown that water may adsorb molecularly or dissociatively on an α-Al2O3(0001) surface, with enhanced dissociation probability compared to "pinhole dosing", i.e., adsorption under thermal equilibrium conditions. However, precise information on the ongoing reactions and their relative probabilities is missing. In order to shed light on molecular beam scattering for this system, we perform ab initio molecular dynamics calculations to simulate water colliding with α-Al2O3(0001). We find that single water molecules hitting a cold, clean surface from the gas phase are either reflected, molecularly adsorbed, or dissociated (so-called 1-2 dissociation only). A certain minimum translational energy (above 0.1 eV) seems to be required to enforce dissociation, which may explain the higher dissociation probability in molecular beam experiments. When the surface is heated and/or when refined surface and beam models are applied (preadsorption with water or water fragments, clustering and internal preexcitation in the beam), additional channels open, among them physisorption, water clustering on the surface, and so-called 1-4 and 1-4′ dissociation.}, language = {en} } @article{PenschkeEdlervonZanderBeqirajetal.2022, author = {Penschke, Christopher and Edler von Zander, Robert and Beqiraj, Alkit and Zehle, Anna and Jahn, Nicolas and Neumann, Rainer and Saalfrank, Peter}, title = {Water on porous, nitrogen-containing layered carbon materials}, series = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : PCCP ; a journal of European chemical societies / RSC, Royal Society of Chemistry}, volume = {24}, journal = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : PCCP ; a journal of European chemical societies / RSC, Royal Society of Chemistry}, number = {24}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1463-9076}, doi = {10.1039/d2cp00657j}, pages = {14709 -- 14726}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Porous, layered materials containing sp(2)-hybridized carbon and nitrogen atoms, offer through their tunable properties, a versatile route towards tailormade catalysts for electrochemistry and photochemistry. A key molecule interacting with these quasi two-dimensional materials (2DM) is water, and a photo(electro)chemical key reaction catalyzed by them, is water splitting into H-2 and O-2, with the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) as half reactions. The complexity of some C/N-based 2DM in contact with water raises special needs for their theoretical modelling, which in turn is needed for rational design of C/N-based catalysts. In this work, three classes of C/N-containing porous 2DM with varying pore sizes and C/N ratios, namely graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), C2N, and poly(heptazine imides) (PHI), are studied with various computational methods. We elucidate the performance of different models and model chemistries (the combination of electronic structure method and basis set) for water and water fragment adsorption in the low-coverage regime. Further, properties related to the photo(electro)chemical activity like electrochemical overpotentials, band gaps, and optical excitation energies are in our focus. Specifically, periodic models will be tested vs. cluster models, and density functional theory (DFT) vs. wavefunction theory (WFT). This work serves as a basis for a systematic study of trends for the photo(electro)chemical activity of C/N-containing layered materials as a function of water content, pore size and density.}, language = {en} } @article{TetenoireEhlertJuaristietal.2022, author = {Tetenoire, Auguste and Ehlert, Christopher and Juaristi, Joseba I{\~n}aki and Saalfrank, Peter and Alducin, Maite}, title = {Why ultrafast photoinduced CO desorption dominates over oxidation on Ru(0001)}, series = {The journal of physical chemistry letters}, volume = {13}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry letters}, number = {36}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington, DC}, issn = {1948-7185}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c02327}, pages = {8516 -- 8521}, year = {2022}, abstract = {CO oxidation on Ru(0001) is a long-standing example of a reaction that, being thermally forbidden in ultrahigh vacuum, can be activated by femtosecond laser pulses. In spite of its relevance, the precise dynamics of the photoinduced oxidation process as well as the reasons behind the dominant role of the competing CO photodesorption remain unclear. Here we use ab initio molecular dynamics with electronic friction that account for the highly excited and nonequilibrated system created by the laser to investigate both reactions. Our simulations successfully reproduce the main experimental findings: the existence of photoinduced oxidation and desorption, the large desorption to oxidation branching ratio, and the changes in the O K-edge X-ray absorption spectra attributed to the initial stage of the oxidation process. Now, we are able to monitor in detail the ultrafast CO desorption and CO oxidation occurring in the highly excited system and to disentangle what causes the unexpected inertness to the otherwise energetically favored oxidation.}, language = {en} }