First-principles Study of Adsorption and Dissociation of Methanol on the Pt(100) Surface

Using first-principles calculations, we studied the interaction of methanol with the Pt(100) surface based on generalized gradient approximation. We found that top sites of Pt(100) surface are the favored adsorptive positions in energy, and methanol molecule interacts with the Pt surface through oxygen atoms. Moreover, we also explored the possible dissociation pathways of methanol on the Pt surface, and suggested that the products of dissociation can be controlled by the external manipulation.