Density functional theory study of the surface relaxation and reactivity of Cu₂O(100)

Density functional theory has been used to investigate the surface relaxation of Cu₂O(100) and the adsorption of NO. The calculations indicate the formation of surface copper dimers on relaxation coupled with a large contraction of the spacing between the first and second layers. Local density of states for atoms in the top three layers shows that the third layer copper atoms have the greatest change in bonding character. Adsorption energies have been calculated for the N-down and O-down adsorption of NO on the Cu₂ (100) surface. These indicate that N-down adsorption is favoured and that in this case NO-lattive oxygen interactions dominate the adsorbate structure.