In this research, the adsorption of styrene and styrene oxide, both biomass derivatives, on KTaO3 (001) and LiTaO3 (0001) perovskite-like structures was studied from a theoretical point of view. The study was carried out using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The adsorption phenomenon was deeply studied by calculating the adsorption energies (Eads ), adsorbate-surface distances (Å) and evaluating the differences of charge density and charge transfer (ΔCT). For complexes adsorbed on KTaO3 (TaO2 , KO and K(OH)2 exposed layers), the highest Eads was found for styrene oxide, attributed to the oxygen reactivity of the epoxy group describing a strong interaction with the surface. However, when evaluating a K(O)2 model, a more favorable interaction of styrene with the surface is observed, resulting in a high Eads of -9.9 eV and a ΔCT of 3.1e. For LiTaO3 , more favorable interactions are found for both adsorbates compared to KTaO3 , evidenced by the higher adsorption energies and charge density differences, particularly for the styrene complex adsorbed on TaO2 exposed layer (Eads : -10.2 eV). For the LiO termination, the surface exposed oxygens are fundamental for the adsorption of styrene and styrene oxide, leading to a considerable structural distortion. The obtained results thus provide understanding of the structural features, surface reactivity and adsorption sites of LiTaO3 and KTaO3 perovskite in the context of a heterogeneous catalytic process, such as the oxidation of styrene.
Keywords: adsorption; density functional calculations; styrene; styrene oxide; tantalates.
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