Stability, Structure, and Electronic Properties of the Pyrite/Arsenopyrite Solid-Solid Interface-A DFT Study

Pyrite is the most common sulfide in the Earth. In the presence of arsenopyrite its oxidation is delayed, and instead, the arsenopyrite increases its oxidation rate, releasing As(III) and As(V) species in the medium. DFT/plane waves calculations were performed on pyrite/arsenopyrite interface models to understand the stability, structure, and electronic properties of the interface. This is the first step to understand the influence of the inlaid arsenopyrite in the pyrite oxidation mechanism. The interface is slightly stressed with minor changes in the bond lengths and lattice parameters with respect to the pure phases. The work of adhesion and the formation energy indicate that the miscibility of the two phases is not favorable, explaining the presence of large domains of either pyrite or arsenopyrite forming bulk granular regions. The valence band of the pyrite/arsenopyrite interface has large contributions from the pyrite phase, while the conduction band has large contributions from the arsenopyrite. This is consistent with the pyrite as cathode and arsenopyrite as anode in a galvanic contact. Furthermore, the interface formation shifts the valence states upward and decreases the band gap, facilitating interfacial electron transfer.