Atomic carbon adsorption on Ni nanoclusters: A DFT study

Atomic carbon is a key intermediate interacting with transition metal clusters during the growth of carbon nanotube (CNT). Present density functional calculations studied the initial carbon adsorption on four Ni nanoclusters (N₁₃, N₁₅, N₃₈, and N₅₅). Our results show that carbon atoms preferentially adsorb on high-coordination sites, and carbon adsorption energies are larger on smaller Ni clusters. Ni cluster reconstruction plays an important role in creating more stable subsurface adsorption sites. The migration of adsorbed carbon atom on the surface threefold hollow site into the underlying interstitial subsurface positions is thermodynamically and kinetically feasible. The results indicate that the investigation of CNT growth mechanism should include both surface and subsurface carbon atoms, coupled with surface reconstruction of Ni nanoclusters.