研究目的
Investigating the behavior of excess electrons from oxygen vacancies on AnO2 (111) surfaces (An = Th, U, Pu) and their impacts on catalytic water splitting.
研究成果
The study demonstrates a transition in the behavior of excess electrons from localization at the vacancy site on ThO2 to localization at the metal 5f orbitals in PuO2, with UO2 as an intermediate case. This transition significantly affects the catalytic properties of the AnO2 surfaces, particularly in the water-splitting reaction. The findings have important implications for the surface chemistry and corrosion of AnO2, as well as the handling and long-term storage of spent nuclear fuels.
研究不足
The study does not include the effects of spin?orbit interaction (SOI) and is limited to the (111) surface of AnO2. The calculations may converge to metastable states, leading to potential inconsistencies in the relative stability of oxygen vacancies and the distribution of excess electrons.
1:Experimental Design and Method Selection:
Spin-polarized DFT+U simulations were employed to study the electronic structure of oxygen vacancies on AnO2(111) surfaces. The U-ramping methodology and occupation matrix control (OMC) were used to locate low-energy electronic states for the reduced AnO2 surfaces.
2:Sample Selection and Data Sources:
The study focused on the (111) surface of AnO2 (An = Th, U, Pu) using a (2 × 2) supercell model with three AnO2 atomic layers.
3:List of Experimental Equipment and Materials:
The projector augmented-wave (PAW) method as implemented in the Vienna ab initio Simulation Package (VASP) was used. The generalized gradient approximation (GGA) of Perdew?Burke?Ernzerhof (PBE) functional with a Hubbard U correction for 5f electrons was employed.
4:Experimental Procedures and Operational Workflow:
The U-ramping calculations were performed with stepwise incremental U value starting from zero. The location of excess electrons was controlled by the OMC method to compare the thermodynamics of reduced surfaces in different electronic configurations.
5:Data Analysis Methods:
The reaction pathway of water splitting on the surfaces was calculated with the nudged elastic band method with the climbing image (CI-NEB).
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