Comparison of benzene adsorption on Ni(111) and Ni(100)

A. K. Myers, G. R. Schoofs, J. B. Benziger

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

The adsorption of benzene on the Ni(100) and the Ni(111) crystal faces was compared in order to investigate the effect of crystallographic orientation on the interaction of benzene with nickel. Temperature programmed reaction (TPR) was used to characterize adsorption bond strengths and determine product distributions. Benzene was found to adsorb 44 kJ/mol less strongly on the Ni(111) plane than on the Ni(100) surface. Di-hydrogen evolution formed after decomposition of benzene was similar for both surfaces. Benzene chemisorption was modeled by using extended Hückel theory (EHT), a semiempirical molecular orbital method. The calculations predict bonding of benzene over a threefold hollow site on Ni(111). Multicenter bonding of the benzene carbon atoms with the nickel atoms is indicated by the calculations. The binding strength of benzene is controlled by the degree of overlap of the carbon π orbitals with the nickel atom orbitals. Benzene binds more strongly to the Ni(100) surface because the carbon π orbitals can overlap with four nickel atoms on the fourfold hollow site, whereas on Ni(111) the carbon atoms are closely associated with only three nickel atoms on the threefold hollow site.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2230-2232
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of physical chemistry
Volume91
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 1987

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Comparison of benzene adsorption on Ni(111) and Ni(100)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this