Mechanisms for chemical transformations of (R,R)-tartaric acid on Cu(110): A first principles study

Periodic density functional theory calculations are used to systematically investigate, for the first time, the mechanisms for chemical transformations of (R,R)-tartaric acid on a model Cu(110) surface. The overall potential energy surface for the chemical transformations is revealed. The calculations show that the adsorption of the intact biacid molecules of (R,R)-tartaric acid on Cu(110) surface is not strong, but upon adsorption on Cu(110), the biacid molecules will chemically transform immediately, rather than desorb from the surface. It is found that the chemical transformations of (R,R)-tartaric acid on Cu(110) is a thermodynamically favorable process, to produce the monotartrate species, bitartrate species, and H atoms. Kinetically, the initial reaction step is only one O-H bond scission in either one of the COOH group of a biacid molecule of (R,R)-tartaric acid leading to the formation of a monotartrate species and a H atom, which is an almost spontaneous process. The rate-controlling step is the O-H bond scission in the COOH group of a monotartrate species producing a bitartrate species and a H atom. The concerted reaction for simultaneously breaking the two O-H bonds in both COOH groups of a biacid molecule cannot proceed.