Surfactant Effects of Au on Polar ZnO Surfaces

The electronic properties of one monolayer of Au atoms on polar ZnO surfaces are examined by first-principles slab calculations. It is found that an Au ad-layer on top of the surface is energetically more favourable than other gold diffused cases, and Au capping layer on the ZnO polar surfaces may modify the growing properties of ZnO nanostructures by enhancing the binding energy.