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Abstract:
The interaction of water with Fe3O4 (001) is studied by density functional theory calculations including an on-site Coulomb term. For isolated molecules, dissociative adsorption is strongly promoted at surface defect sites, while at higher coverages a hydrogen-bonded network forms with alternating molecular and dissociated species. This mixed adsorption mode and a suppression of the (√2 x √2)R45° reconstruction are confirmed by a quantitative low energy electron diffraction analysis. Adsorbate induced electron transfer processes add a new dimension towards understanding the catalytic activity of magnetite(001).