Theoretical study of NH 3 , H 2 S, and HCN adsorption enhancement on defective graphene-supported Cu 19 clusters.

Recent studies have shown that graphene-supported metal clusters can enhance catalytic reactivity compared with corresponding metal clusters. In this study, the adsorptions of NH 3 , H 2 S, and HCN on Cu 19 and defective graphene-supported Cu 19 clusters are investigated using plane-wave density functional theory. The results reveal the three gas molecules can be adsorbed on three types of top sites of Cu atoms, respectively. The adsorption energies of the corresponding adsorption sites on the defective graphene-supported Cu 19 clusters are all increased compared with those on the Cu 19 clusters. The orbital-resolved, crystal orbital Hamilton population analysis demonstrates that the larger the integrated crystal orbital Hamilton population, the stronger the adsorption between the gas molecule and the bonded Cu atom. The center of antibonding states on the defective graphene-supported Cu 19 is shifted upward relative to Fermi level compared to the corresponding one on pure Cu 19 , which explains the enhanced adsorption energy on defective graphene-supported Cu 19. In addition, the closer d-band center to the Fermi level on the defective graphene-supported Cu 19 indicates a stronger adsorption capacity than on pure Cu 19 .