Density Functional Theory Study of Hydrogen Adsorption on Pt Pd/γ-Al₂O₃ Surface

Abstract

At present passive hydrogen recombiners (PAR) are used to prevent hydrogen explosion. Hydrogen removal catalyst is the core component of PAR. The adsorption of hydrogen on the solid catalyst surface is the premise of catalytic hydrogen removal and is of great significance for deeper understanding of hydrogen removal mechanism. The adsorption behavior of H2-Pt Pd/γ-Al2O3 system has been studied by using density functional theory and periodic slab model. The results of different adsorption sites indicate the adsorption energy of top site is highest, which is -1.2584eV. Higher adsorption energy means stronger interaction between H2 and catalyst substrate, which elongates H-H bond and increases the negative charge on H2. With increasing doping content of Pd, the adsorption energy of substrate decreases gradually. The adsorption energy absolute value of Pt4/γ-Al2O3 is highest and its H-H bond is longest, arriving at 0.0967nm. After adsorbed on substrate, the energy gap of H2 decreases drastically with the lowest energy gap of H2-Pt4/γ-Al2O3 that is 0.5197eV, and the peaks of density of state pattern move to lower energy level. This is because that the d orbital of Pt/Pd atoms interacts with the τ* anti-bond orbital of H2 strongly, transferring electrons to the τ* anti-bond orbital of H2. Doping Pd increases the energy gap of molecule orbital.