Properties of bulk liquid Pd and Pt and their free liquid surface studied with first principles techniques

Abstract

We have performed first principles computer simulations in order to study the structural and dynamic properties of bulk liquid Pd and Pt near their melting points. We find good agreement with the available experimental static structure and transport properties, and furthermore we provide more detailed information that is not available from experiments. Additional simulations have also been undertaken so as to study the free liquid surface of both liquid metals. The calculated longitudinal ionic density profile exhibits an oscillatory behavior whose properties have been analyzed. For both metals, the associated intrinsic surface structure factor presents a marked maximum related to surface layering