Spatial and electronic structure of the Ni3P surface

To understand the catalytic effect in the Ni–Ni3P for the growth of carbon nanostructures, the structural and electronic properties of Ni3P surface are calculated from first-principles calculations. The calculated surface energies for the (0 0 1)-Ni4P4-terminated surface, the (0 0 1)-Ni8-terminated surface, and the (1 1 0)-Ni8-terminated surface show that the (0 0 1)-Ni4P4-terminated surface is energetically more stable within the allowed range of the chemical potential of P. Through the analysis of the partial density of states of Ni and P atoms in surface and bulk states, respectively, it is further found that due to the bond contractions of the surface layer, the core-level shifts of P atoms in the (0 0 1)-Ni4P4-terminated surface make P atoms in the Ni3P particles act as a catalyst. Finally, the obtained results of the work function show that the (0 0 1)-Ni4P4-terminated surface has the largest work function when compared with the other two studied surfaces.