Theoretical study of para-nitro-aniline adsorption on the Au(111) surface

The electronic structure, bonding properties and dynamics of para-nitro-aniline (PNA) adsorbed on the Au(111) surface for a sub-monolayer coverge have been investigated by density-functional theory (DFT) static calculations and quantum molecular dynamics simulations. Four main adsorption geometries have been identified by DFT energy optimization with the gradient corrected PBE functional and accounting for the role of the van del Waals (vdW) interaction. Quantum dynamics calculations starting from the four different structures have been performed at room temperature to estimate the relative stability of the adsorbates and the presence of barriers for their interconversion. Quantum simulations suggest that the most stable adsorption geometry at room temperature is that of PNA with a slightly distorted molecular plane almost parallel to the Au(111) surface. In a second less populated configuration the PNA molecule interacts with the substrate by its NO₂ group while the molecular plane is orthogonal to the surface. The N 1s electron photoemission spectrum has been simulated for the identified adsorbate geometries and a measurable variation of the absolute and relative chemical shift for the two nitrogen atoms in comparison with the known values for PNA in gas phase is predicted.