Investigation of vinyl phosphonic acid/hydroxylated α-Al₂O₃(0001) reaction enthalpies

The eleven ion vinyl phosphonic acid (VPA) molecule consists of a phosphorus ion that serves as a cationic anchor for two electron-rich functional groups, viz., a tripodal oxygen-rich base and vinyl hydrocarbon tail. Recent inelastic tunneling experiments have implied that VPA binds in a tridentate coordination though its base leaving the vinyl tail free to react with a resin in adhesive bonding applications. Using first-principles total energy calculations, the reaction enthalpies for bonding of a single VPA molecule to selected threefold sites on hydroxylated α-Al₂O₃(0001) are investigated. Tridentate, bidentate and unidentate coordinations, both with and without liberated water molecules, are examined to determine if the tridentate coordination is favored over the others and the extent to which the VPA molecule is sensitive to surface site geometry. The electron localization function is used to examine the extent of covalent character between the P-O bonds that anchor the VPA fragment to the oxide surface. Some comments on the entropic contributions of the VPA and H₂O molecules to the binding energetics are offered, along with a discussion of the effects of H₂O placement on the oxide surface and aluminum alloying agents.