DFT Analysis of NO Adsorption on the Undoped and Ce-Doped LaCoO3 (011) Surface

Using the density functional theory (DFT) method, we investigated the adsorption of NO on the undoped and Ce-doped LaCoO3 (011) surface. According to our calculations, the best adsorption site is not changed after Ce doping. When the NO molecule is adsorbed on the perfect LaO-terminated LaCoO3 (011) surface, the most stable adsorption site is hollow-top, which corresponds to the hollow-NO configuration in our study. After the substitution of La with Ce, the adsorption energy of hollow-NO configuration is increased. For the perfect CoO2-terminated LaCoO3 (011) surface, it is found that Co-NO configuration is the preferential adsorption structure. Its adsorption energy can also be enhanced after Ce doping. When NO molecule is adsorbed on the undoped and Ce-doped LaO-terminated LaCoO3 (011) surface with hollow-NO configuration, it serves as the acceptor and electrons transfer from the surface to it in the adsorption process. On the contrary, for the Co-NO configuration of undoped and Ce-doped CoO2-terminated LaCoO3 (011) surface, NO molecule becomes the donor and loses electrons to the surface.