First-principles characterisation and comparison of clean, hydrated, and defect α-Al2O3 and α-Fe2O3 (110) surfaces

Structural models of the (110) termination of alpha-Al2O3 and alpha-Fe2O3 are studied using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and thermodynamics to determine the details of the mineral-water interface structure and stability. Prior experiments have characterised these interfaces, but the X-ray reflectivity techniques used cannot identify the distribution of protons on surface sites. In addition, the alumina (110) surface displays two different surface structures stable in water, with their occurrence dependent on sample preparation conditions. We use theory and modelling to determine the thermodynamically preferred surface structures, including protonation states of surface oxygen functional groups, as a function of temperature and pressure. Consistent with studies of other facets of alumina and hematite, we find that thermodynamically unfavourable defect structures, upon hydration and hydroxylation, show comparable stability to the hydrated forms of ideal terminations. The model results are compared to experimental characterisation of hydrated (110) alumina and hematite surfaces with good agreement between the best-fit structures from experiments and the lowest surface free energy structures from theory and modelling. Electronic structure analysis of the exposed surface functional groups is presented, and we highlight instances in which the electronic density of states differs between oxygen functional groups that have similar coordination environments.

Automated summary

In this study, structural models of the (110) termination of alpha-Al2O3 and alpha-Fe2O3 were investigated using Density Functional Theory calculations and thermodynamics to determine mineral-water interface structure and stability. The research found that the alumina (110) surface displays two different stable surface structures in water, and thermodynamically unfavorable defect structures show comparable stability to ideal terminations upon hydration and hydroxylation. The results of the model were compared to experimental characterizations with good agreement between the best-fit structures from experiments and the lowest surface free energy structures from theory and modeling.