Adsorption and dissociation of methanol on Au(1 1 1) surface: A first-principles periodic density functional study

The adsorption and dissociation of methanol on Au(111) surface were studied using the first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) with the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). Adsorption energies, geometric structures, Mulliken charges population, and vibrational frequencies of the various intermediates were computed from full-geometry optimization with a three-layer slab model. The most stable adsorption modes of the species, i.e. CH3OH, CH3O, and HCHO were considered in calculation. The possible decomposition pathways were investigated with transition state search methods. The results indicate that methoxyl radical is likely the decomposition intermediate.