A DFT study of the structures of Au(x) clusters on a CeO2(111) surface

Studying the structures of metal clusters on oxide supports is challenging due to their various structural possibilities. In the present work, a simple rule in which the number of Au atoms in different layers of Au(x) clusters is changed successively is used to systematically investigate the structures of Au(x) (x=1-10) clusters on stoichiometric and partially reduced CeO(2)(111) surface by DFT calculations. The calculations indicate that the adsorption energy of a single Au atom on the surface, the surface structure, as well as the Au-Au bond strength and arrangement play the key roles in determining Au(x) structures on CeO(2)(111). The most stable Au(2) and Au(3) clusters on CeO(2)(111) are 2D vertical structures, while the most stable structures of Au(x) clusters (x>3) are generally 3D structures, except for Au(7). The 3D structures of large Au(x) clusters in which the Au number in the bottom layer does not exceed that in the top layer are not stable. The differences between Au(x) on CeO(2)(111) and Mg(100) were also studied. The stabilizing effect of surface oxygen vacancies on Au(x) cluster structures depends on the size of Au(x) cluster and the relative positions of Au(x) cluster and oxygen vacancy. The present work will be helpful in improving the understanding of metal cluster structures on oxide supports.