Improved adsorption energetics within density functional theory using revised PBE functionals

Improved adsorption energetics within density functional theory using revised PBE functionals

by B. Hammer, L. B. Hansen and J. K. Nørskov.

Phys. Rev. B 59, 7413 (1999).

Abstract

A simple formulation of a generalized gradient approximation for exchange and correlation energy of electrons has been proposed by Perdew, Burke and Ernzerhof (PBE) [Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 3865 (1996)]. Subsequently Zhang and Yang [Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 890 (1998)] have shown that a slight revision of the PBE functional systematically improves the atomization energies for a large database of small molecules. In the present work, we show that the Zhang and Yang functional (revPBE) also improves the chemisorption energetics of atoms and molecules on transition metal surfaces. Our test systems comprise atomic and molecular adsorption of oxygen, CO, and NO on Ni(100), Ni(111), Rh(100), Pd(100), and Pd(111) surfaces. As the revPBE functional may locally violate the Lieb-Oxford criterion, we further develop an alternative revision of the PBE functional, RPBE, which gives the same improvement of the chemisorption energies as the revPBE functional at the same time as it fulfills the Lieb-Oxford criterion locally.

Click here to obtain directions on how to modify the PBE functional into either the revPBE or the RPBE functional.