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Surface segregation is a common phenomenon in alloys exposed to reactive atmospheres, yet the atomic mechanisms underlying surface structure and composition dynamics remains largely unexplored. Using a combination of environmental transmission electron microscopy observations and atomistic modeling, here we report the surface segregation process of Pt atoms in a dilute Pt(Cu) alloy and determine the distribution of Pt atoms at both atomically flat and stepped surfaces of the Pt(Cu) alloy at elevated temperature and in a hydrogen gas atmosphere. Through directly probing Pt segregation, we find that Pt atoms segregated on the (100) surface exhibit a p(2×2) ordering, with ~25% Pt occupancy. In contrast, on the stepped (410) surface, hydrogen adsorption induces Pt segregation, initially occurring at the step edges, which then expands to the terrace sites upon increased hydrogen coverage, resulting in an ordered distribution of segregated Pt atoms with ~22% occupancy. These observations offer mechanistic insights into the structure and composition dynamics of the topmost atomic layer of the alloy in response to environmental stimuli and hold practical implications for the design and optimization of catalysts based on Pt group metals.
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First principles analysis of surface dependent segregation in bimetallic alloys
Stability is an important aspect of alloys, and proposed alloys may be unstable due to unfavorable atomic interactions. Segregation of an alloy may occur preferentially at specific exposed surfaces, which could affect the alloy's structure since certain surfaces may become enriched in certain elements. Using density functional theory (DFT), we modeled surface segregation in bimetallic alloys involving all transition metals doped in Pt, Pd, Ir, and Rh. We not only modeled common (111) surfaces of such alloys, but we also modeled (100), (110), and (210) facets of such alloys. Segregation is more preferred for early and late transition metals, with middle transition metals being most stable within the parent metal. We find these general trends in segregation energies for the parent metals: Pt > Rh > Pd > Ir. A comparison of different surfaces suggests no consistent trends across the different parent hosts, but segregation energies can vary up to 2 eV depending on the exposed surface. We also developed a statistical model to predict surface-dependent segregation energies. Our model is able to distinguish segregation at different surfaces (as opposed to generic segregation common in previous models), and agrees well with the DFT data. The present study provides valuable information about surface-dependent segregation and helps explain why certain alloy structures occur ( e.g. core–shell).
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- Award ID(s):
- 1705830
- PAR ID:
- 10166029
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
- Volume:
- 21
- Issue:
- 42
- ISSN:
- 1463-9076
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 23626 to 23637
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1039/c9cp03984h
