Molecular dynamics study of water adsorption structures on the MgO(100) surface

Semiempirical MSINDO calculations were performed for the study of structure and stability of c(4 x 2), p(3 x 2), and (1 x 1) overlayers of water on the MgO(100) surface. Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (MD) techniques were used to simulate the changes in the adsorption at 300 K compared to that at 0 K. It was found that a partially dissociated double layer of the c(4 x 2) structure with coverage theta = 3/2 attacks the MgO surface at 300 K. The hydroxylated (1 x 1) overlayer structure appears to be equally aggressive toward the MgO surface at this temperature. Nucleation for the process of Mg(OH)(2) formation was also observed.