arXiv subjects

Abdelkader Kara

Publications and source records attributed to Abdelkader Kara.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Structural, Vibrational and Thermodynamic Properties of AgnCu34-n Nanoparticles

We report results of a systematic study of structural, vibrational and thermodynamical properties of 34-atom bimetallic nanoparticles from the AgnCu34-n family using model interaction potentials as derived from the embedded atom method and in the harmonic approximation of lattice dynamics. Systematic trends in the bond length and dynamical properties can be explained largely on arguments based on local coordination and elemental environment. Thus increase in the number of silver atoms in a given neighborhood introduces a monotonic increase in bond length while increase of the copper content does the reverse. Moreover, based on bond lengths of the lowest coordinated (6 and 8) copper atoms with their nearest neighbors (Cu atoms), we find that the nanoparticles divide into two groups with average bond length either close to (~ 2.58 A) or smaller (~ 2.48 A) than that in bulk copper, accompanied by characteristic features in their vibrational density of states. For the entire set of nanoparticles, vibrational modes are found above the bulk bands of copper/silver. Furthermore, a blue shift in the high frequency end with increasing number of copper atoms in the nanoparticles is traced to a shrinkage of bond lengths from bulk values. The vibrational densities of states at the low frequency end of the spectrum scale linearly with frequency as for single element nanoparticles, however, the effect is more pronounced for these nanoalloys. The Debye temperature was found to be about one third of that of the bulk for pure copper and silver nanoparticles with a non-linear increase with increasing number of copper atoms in the nanoalloys.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2006

First principles study of the electronic and geometric structure of Cu(532)

Using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation and ultra-soft pseudo-potentials, we have calculated structural relaxations of the Cu(532) surface which contains steps and kinks. We find the relaxation pattern to oscillate dramatically for atoms in the first 10 layers before decaying rapidly in the bulk. The most striking feature is an outward expansion of the relative interlayer separation $\mathbf{d}_{12}$ of 25%. We also find serious discrepancies with relaxation pattern and relaxation amplitudes calculated using embedded atom method potentials that may reflect the limitation of these potentials to accurately describe systems with complex geometries. Full potential calculations reveal a dispersionless surface state along a high symmetry direction in the surface Brillouin zone. Valence charge density along several planes show access of charge around kink atom and the nature of bonding with other (532) atoms.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

A comparative study of the energetics of CO on stepped and kinked Cu surfaces using density functional theory

Our ab initio calculations of CO adsorption on several low and high miller index surfaces of Cu show that the adsorption energy increases as the coordination of the adsorption site decreases from 11 to 6, in qualitative agreement with experimental observations. On each surface the adsorption energy is also found to decrease with increase in coverage, although the decrement is not uniform. Calculated vibrational properties show an increase in the frequency of the metal-C mode with decrease in coordination whereas no such effect is found in the frequency of the CO stretch mode. Examination of the surface electronic structure shows a strong local effect of CO adsorption on the local density of state of the substrate atoms. We also provide some energetics of CO diffusion on Cu(111) and Cu(211).

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Diffusion of small two-dimensional Cu Islands on Cu(111)

Diffusion of small two dimensional Cu islands (containing up to 10 atoms) on Cu(111) has been studied using the newly developed self-learning Kinetic Monte Carlo SLKMC method. It is based on a database of diffusion processes and their energetics accumulated automatically during the implementation of the SLKMC code. Results obtained from simulations in which atoms hop from one fcc hollow site to another are compared with those obtained from a parallel set of simulations in which the database is supplemented by processes revealed in complementary molecular dynamics simulations at 500 K. They include processes involving the hcp (stacking-fault) sites, which facilitate concerted motion of the islands. A significant difference in the scaling of the effective diffusion barriers with island size is observed between the two cases. In particular, the presence of concerted island motion leads to an almost linear increase in the effective diffusion barrier with size, while its absence accounts for strong size-dependent oscillations and anomalous behavior for trimers and heptamers while the diffusion coefficients (calculated at 300 K, 500 K, and 700 K) do not display any characteristic scaling with size. We also identify and discuss in detail the key microscopic processes responsible for the diffusion and examine the frequencies of their occurrence, as a function of island size and substrate temperature.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Calculated Pre-exponential Factors and Energetics for Adatom Hopping on Terraces and Steps of Cu(100) and Cu(110)

We have calculated the vibrational dynamics and thermodynamics for Cu adatom hopping on terraces and near step edges on Cu(100) and Cu(110), using the embedded atom method for the interatomic potential. The local vibrational densities of states were calculated using real space Green's function formalism and the thermodynamical functions were evaluated in the harmonic approximation. The calculated diffusion energy barriers for six specific local environments on Cu(100) agree well with experimental and previous theoretical results. Contribution of vibrational entropy to the change in the free energy of the system as the adatom moves from the equilibrium configuration (hollow site) to the saddle point, is found to be as much as 55meV (144 meV) at 300K (600K). The prefactors for all 13 cases are found to be of the order of 10-3 cm2/s, almost independent of temperature, and the respective activation energy barriers.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Self-learning Kinetic Monte-Carlo method: application to Cu(111)

We present a novel way of performing kinetic Monte Carlo simulations which does not require an {\it a priori} list of diffusion processes and their associated energetics and reaction rates. Rather, at any time during the simulation, energetics for all possible (single or multi-atom) processes, within a specific interaction range, are either computed accurately using a saddle point search procedure, or retrieved from a database in which previously encountered processes are stored. This self-learning procedure enhances the speed of the simulations along with a substantial gain in reliability because of the inclusion of many-particle processes. Accompanying results from the application of the method to the case of two-dimensional Cu adatom-cluster diffusion and coalescence on Cu(111) with detailed statistics of involved atomistic processes and contributing diffusion coefficients attest to the suitability of the method for the purpose.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

On the origin of the C induced $p4g$ reconstruction of Ni(001)

First principles calculations of the geometric and electronic structures have been performed for two coverages (0.25 ML and 0.5 ML) of C on Ni(001) to understand the mechanism of the Ni(001) reconstruction induced by carbon adsorption. The calculated structural behavior of the system is in a good agreement with experimental observations. The calculated path and energetics of the $c(2\times 2)$ -- $p4g$ reconstruction in C$_{0.5}$/Ni(001) is provided. A dramatic reduction of the local electronic charge on adsorbed carbon is found to occur upon the reconstruction that decreases the electron-electron repulsion on C site. This effect together with the formation of covalent bonds between C and the second layer Ni atoms, leads to reconstruction of Ni(001).

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Cluster Diffusion and Coalescence on Metal Surfaces: applications of a Self-learning Kinetic Monte-Carlo method

The Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) method has become an important tool for examination of phenomena like surface diffusion and thin film growth because of its ability to carry out simulations for time scales that are relevant to experiments. But the method generally has limited predictive power because of its reliance on predetermined atomic events and their energetics as input. We present a novel method, within the lattice gas model in which we combine standard KMC with automatic generation of a table of microscopic events, facilitated by a pattern recognition scheme. Each time the system encounters a new configuration, the algorithm initiates a procedure for saddle point search around a given energy minimum. Nontrivial paths are thus selected and the fully characterized transition path is permanently recorded in a database for future usage. The system thus automatically builds up all possible single and multiple atom processes that it needs for a sustained simulation. Application of the method to the examination of the diffusion of 2-dimensional adatom clusters on Cu(111) displays the key role played by specific diffusion processes and also reveals the presence of a number of multiple atom processes, whose importance is found to decrease with increasing cluster size and decreasing surface temperature. Similarly, the rate limiting steps in the coalescence of adatom islands are determined. Results are compared with those from experiments where available and with those from KMC simulations based on a fixed catalogue of diffusion processes.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Atomistic studies of thin film growth

We present here a summary of some recent techniques used for atomistic studies of thin film growth and morphological evolution. Specific attention is given to a new kinetic Monte Carlo technique in which the usage of unique labeling schemes of the environment of the diffusing entity allows the development of a closed data base of 49 single atom diffusion processes for periphery motion. The activation energy barriers and diffusion paths are calculated using reliable manybody interatomic potentials. The application of the technique to the diffusion of 2-dimensional Cu clusters on Cu(111) shows interesting trends in the diffusion rate and in the frequencies of the microscopic mechanisms which are responsible for the motion of the clusters, as a function of cluster size and temperature. The results are compared with those obtained from yet another novel kinetic Monte Carlo technique in which an open data base of the energetics and diffusion paths of microscopic processes is continuously updated as needed. Comparisons are made with experimental data where available.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Comparative study of adatom manipulation on several fcc metal surfaces

For a set of fcc metals our total energy calculations, based on many body potentials, show that activation barriers for lateral manipulation of an adatom at a step edge depend on the tip/substrate composition. Of the six homogeneous systems studied, manipulation on stepped Ag(111) showed the lowest energy barrier for adatom hopping towards the tip, although the relative probability for this process was largest on Cu(111). For a representative Cu/Pt heterogeneous system we find lateral manipulation of a Pt adatom along a step on Pt(111) by a Cu(100) tip to be energetically much less favourable than the reverse case of a Cu adatom manipulated by a Pt(100) tip. In the case of vertical manipulation, atomic relaxations of the tip and its neighbouring atoms are found to be prominent and tip induced changes in the bonding of the adatom to its low coordinated surroundings help explain the relative ease with which an adatom next to a step edge or a kink site, may be pulled, as compared to that on a flat surface.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Structure, Dynamics and Themodynamics of a metal chiral surface: Cu(532)

The structure, vibrational dynamics and thermodynamics of a chiral surface, Cu(532), has been calculated using a local approach and the harmonic approximation, with interatomic potentials based on the embedded atom method. The relaxation of atomic positions to the optimum configuration results in a complex relaxation pattern with strong contractions in the bond length of atoms near the kink and the step site and an equivalently large expansion near the least under-coordinated surface atoms. The low coordination of the atoms on the surface affects substantially the vibrational dynamics and thermodynamics of this system. The local vibrational density of states show a deviation from the bulk behavior that persist down to the 10th layer resulting in a substantial contribution of the vibrational entropy to the excess free energy amounting to about 90 meV per unit cell at 300K.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2004

Ab initio calculations of adsorbate-induced stress on Ni(100)

We have calculated the surface stress induced on adsorption of c(2x2) overlayers of O and C, using first principles electronic structure calculations based on density functional theory within the local density approximation(LDA) and non-local pseudopotentials. Most remarkable result is found in the case of the C overlayer which introduces a large compressive stress, while that on clean Ni(100) and that in the presence of the O overlayer are found to be tensile and smaller in comparison. We find a correlation between the height of the C overlayer and the resulting clock reconstruction of Ni(100) but no specific relationship between surface stress and surface reconstruction. We discuss our results in the context of experimental data, and insights from electronic structure calculations.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2001

Theoretical aspects of vertical and lateral manipulation of atoms

Using total energy calculations, based on interaction potentials from the embedded atom method, we show that the presence of the tip not only lowers the barrier for lateral diffusion of the adatom towards it, but also shifts the corresponding saddle point. For a Cu adatom at a (100) microfacetted step on Cu(111) this shift is 0.6 A. The effect of the tip geometry and shape on the energetics of lateral manipulation was found to be subtle. In the case of vertical manipulation of a Cu adatom on flat, stepped, and kinked Cu surfaces we find an unusual but interesting result. It is found that as the tip approaches the surface, it becomes easier to extract the adatom from the stepped and kinked surfaces, as compared to the flat surface. This counter intuitive result can be explained in terms of tip induced changes in the bonding of the adatom to its low coordinated surroundings.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2001

Phonons of Metallic Vicinal Surfaces

We present an analysis of the vibrational dynamics of metal vicinal surfaces using the embedded atom method to describe the interaction potential and both a real space Green's function method and a slab method to calculate the phonons. We report two main general characteristics : a global shift of the surface vibrational density of states resulting from a softening of the force field. The latter is a direct result of the reduction of coordination for the different type of surface atoms; and an appearance of high frequency modes above the bulk band, resulting from a stiffening of the force field near the step atom. The latter is due to a rearrangement of the atomic positions during the relaxation of the surface atoms yielding a large shortening of the nearest neighbor distances near the step atoms.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2001

Electronic Structure of the c(2x2)O/Cu(001) System

The locally self-consistent real space multiple scattering technique has been applied to calculate the electronic structure and chemical binding for the c(2x2)O/Cu(001) system, as a function of $d_{O-Cu1}$ -- the height of oxygen above the fourfold hollow sites. It is found that the chemical binding between oxygen and copper has a mixed ionic-covalent character for all plausible values of $d_{O-Cu1}$. Furthermore, the electron charge transfer from Cu to O depends strongly on $d_{O-Cu1}$ and is traced to the variation of the long-range electrostatic part of the potential. A competition between the hybridization of Cu1-$d_{xz}$ with O-$p_x,p_y$ and Cu1-$d_{x^2-y^2}$ with O-$p_z$ states controls modification of the electronic structure when oxygen atoms approach the Cu(001) surface. The anisotropy of the oxygen valence electron charge density is found to be strongly and non-monotonically dependent on $d_{O-Cu1}$.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2001

Ab initio Calculations of Multilayer Relaxations of Stepped Cu Surfaces

We present trends in the multilayer relaxations of several vicinals of Cu(100) and Cu(111) of varying terrace widths and geometry. The electronic structure calculations are based on density functional theory in the local density approximation with norm-conserving, non-local pseudopotentials in the mixed basis representation. While relaxations continue for several layers, the major effect concentrates near the step and corner atoms. On all surfaces the step atoms contract inwards, in agreement with experimental findings. Additionally, the corner atoms move outwards and the atoms in the adjacent chain undergo large inward relaxation. Correspondingly, the largest contraction (4%) is in the bond length between the step atom and its bulk nearest neighbor (BNN), while that between the corner atom and BNN is somewhat enlarged. The surface atoms also display changes in registry of upto 1.5%. Our results are in general in good agreement with LEED data including the controversial case of Cu(511). Subtle differences are found with results obtained from semi-empirical potentials.

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