Co and Ni Incorporated γ-Al2O3 (110) Surface: A Density Functional Theory Study

Abstract

Investigation into the state and mechanisms of the active metal substitution into the γ-Al2O3 support is the basis for design of many catalysts. Periodic density functional theory (DFT) +U calculations were used to investigate the surface properties of transition metals Co3+ and Ni3+ cations substitute for the Al3+ cations of γ-Al2O3 (110) surface. It was found that the substitution energy of one Al3+ substituted by Co3+ and Ni3+ are −61 and −57 kJ/mol, respectively. The Co and Ni preferentially substitute the tetrahedral Al sites instead of the octahedral Al sites. Using thermodynamics, the Al atoms in the top layer of γ-Al2O3 (110) can be 100% substituted by Co and Ni. Ni is easier to substitute the Al atom than Co. There is no obvious structural distortion that occurs after Co and Ni substituted all the top layer Al atoms. While the band gaps of the substituted surface become narrower, resulting in the increase of surface Lewis acidity. In addition, the oxygen vacancy formation energies of the Co and Ni substituted surface are 268 and 53 kJ/mol, respectively. The results provide interface structure and physical chemistry properties of metal-doped catalysts.