Molecular simulation study of strontium doping on the adsorption of methanol on CaO(100) surface

The influence of strontium doping on the adsorption of methanol on calcium oxide surface was investigated by molecular simulation. The model for methanol adsorption onto the CaO(100) and CaO(100)-Sr surfaces was constructed; the adsorption energy and activation energy were then calculated and the density of states was portrayed for the methanol bond on the calcium oxide surface. The methanol activation degrees on the calcium oxide surface before and after strontium doping were then compared by analyzing the Mulliken atomic charge population and deformation density. The results illustrate that the adsorption of methanol onto the calcium oxide surface can be significantly enhanced through the strontium doping; moreover, the enhancement increases with an increase in the doping content of strontium. After doping calcium oxide with strontium, the energy required for methanol activation is reduced; as a result, the strontium doping can also enhance the activation degree of methanol, as methanol is activated upon adsorption onto the calcium oxide surface.