Hydrogen adsorption on carbon-doped boron nitride nanotube

The adsorption of atomic and molecular hydrogen on carbon-doped boron nitride nanotubes is investigated within the ab initio density functional theory. The binding energy of adsorbed hydrogen on carbon-doped boron nitride nanotube is substantially increased when compared with hydrogen on nondoped nanotube. These results are in agreement with experimental results for boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) where dangling bonds are present. The atomic hydrogen makes a chemical covalent bond with carbon substitution, while a physisorption occurs for the molecular hydrogen. For the H(2) molecule adsorbed on the top of a carbon atom in a boron site (BNNT + C(B)-H(2)), a donor defect level is present, while for the H(2) molecule adsorbed on the top of a carbon atom in a nitrogen site (BNNT + C(N)-H(2)), an acceptor defect level is present. The binding energies of H(2) molecules absorbed on carbon-doped boron nitride nanotubes are in the optimal range to work as a hydrogen storage medium.     

Li修饰B12N12储氢行为的密度泛函理论研究

采用基于密度泛函理论(DFT)的第一性原理投影缀加波方法, 研究了Li 修饰的B₁₂N₁₂笼子的储氢行为.计算结果表明: Li 原子吸附在B₁₂N₁₂笼子的四元环和六元环相交的B－N桥位上, 相对于其它六个高对称吸附位置更稳定, B₁₂N₁₂笼子周围最多可以吸附3 个Li 原子, 最稳定的构型是三个Li 原子同时吸附在N原子顶位(Top-N site). 每个Li 原子的周围能吸附三个氢分子, 笼子外侧还可以吸附两个氢分子, 内部最多可以吸附5 个氢分子. 考虑到笼内和笼外的吸附, B₁₂N₁₂笼子总的储氢量(氢分子)达到9.1% (w).     

Selective adsorption of atomic hydrogen on a h-BN thin film

The adsorption of atomic hydrogen on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is studied using two element-specific spectroscopies, i.e., near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). B K-edge NEXAFS spectra show a clear change in the energy region of the π* band before and after reaction with atomic deuterium. On the other hand, N K-edge NEXAFS spectra show only a little change. B 1s XPS spectra show a distinct component at the low binding energy side of a main component, while N 1s XPS spectra show peak broadening at the high binding energy side. These experimental results are analyzed by the discrete variational Xα method with a core-hole effect and are explained by a model in which hydrogen atoms are preferentially adsorbed on the B sites of h-BN. Based on the experimental and theoretical results, we propose a site-selective property of BN material on adsorption of atomic hydrogen.     

Density functional study on the functionalization of BN nanotubes with nitramide

Chemical functionalization of a boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) with nitramide molecule (H₂NNO₂) has been investigated using density functional theory. It was found that the molecule prefers to be adsorbed and dissociated on a diagonal B-N bond of the tube surface so that the -NH₂ and -NO₂ groups are attached on B and N atoms, releasing energy of 0.50 eV. The results show that the functionalized BNNT is more soluble than the pristine one which may render the chemical modification process to be an effective way for purification of the BNNTs. Depending on the cleavage behavior of nitramide on the tube, HOMO/LUMO gap of the system can be either decreased or increased while the chemically modified BNNT is still a semiconductor. Furthermore, the chemical functionalization results in hindered field emission in the tube by raising the potential barrier of the electron emission.     

A comparative study of Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) surfactant adsorption upon the Al12N12 and B12N12 nano-cages as potential candidates for detecting MELs

Aluminum nitride and boron nitride nanocages have recently been discovered. The properties of these compounds vary according to their size. In this paper, we study the adsorption of MELs on aluminum nitride and boron nitride nanocages in the solution phase using density functional theory. The results of adsorption energies indicate that during the adsorption on aluminum nanocages, ether oxygen atoms show stronger adsorption, while adsorption is stronger on boron nitride nanocage from the hydroxyl group oxygen. The results of thermodynamic calculations indicate that all adsorption positions of aluminum nitride are thermodynamically favorable. However, in the case of boron nitride, some positions are thermodynamically unfavorable. In terms of recovery time, borne nitride is not a good adsorbent because of very small recovery time. The aluminum nitride may be able to behave as a suitable sensor for the MELs in the solution phase. Nevertheless, boron nitride does not have this capability, since it does not significantly change the number of conducting electrons.     

Ambient carbon dioxide capture by boron-rich boron nitride nanotube

Carbon dioxides (CO(2)) emitted from large-scale coal-fired power stations or industrial manufacturing plants have to be properly captured to minimize environmental side effects. From results of ab initio calculations using plane waves [PAW-PBE] and localized atomic orbitals [ONIOM(wB97X-D/6-31G*:AM1)], we report strong CO(2) adsorption on boron antisite (B(N)) in boron-rich boron nitride nanotube (BNNT). We have identified two adsorption states: (1) A linear CO(2) molecule is physically adsorbed on the B(N), showing electron donation from the CO(2) lone-pair states to the B(N) double-acceptor state, and (2) the physisorbed CO(2) undergoes a carboxylate-like structural distortion and C═O π-bond breaking due to electron back-donation from B(N) to CO(2). The CO(2) chemisorption energy on B(N) is almost independent of tube diameter and, more importantly, higher than the standard free energy of gaseous CO(2) at room temperature. This implies that boron-rich BNNT could capture CO(2) effectively at ambient conditions.     

Computational NQR study of a boron nitride nanocone

Abstract  

The electronic structure of a boron nitride nanocone with 240° disclination, and some properties that derive from this structure, were studied by density-functional theory calculations. In the considered model there are only hexagonal rings, with the apex and mouth of the nanocone saturated by hydrogen atoms. The model was optimized, and then the nuclear quadrupole resonance parameters were calculated at the sites of ¹¹B and ¹⁴N nuclei. The results revealed that the nuclei in the boron nitride nanocone are divided into layers with similar electronic properties. The nuclei at the apex and mouth are very important for the electronic behavior of the nanocone, with ¹¹B playing the major role.     

NH3在硼纳米管表面吸附的密度泛函理论研究

利用密度泛函理论研究了NH₃在完整和含有缺陷的硼纳米管上的吸附行为以及相关电子性质. 计算结果表明, 对于α硼纳米管, 在不同的直径和手性条件下, NH₃均倾向于吸附在配位数为6的顶位上. 电子结构计算结果表明, NH₃能够吸附在纳米管表面主要是由于N和B原子产生了较强的相互作用. 表明硼纳米管是一种潜在的NH₃气气敏材料.     

SiC-doped boron nitride nanotubes: computations of 11B and 14N quadrupole coupling constants

Abstract  

Density-functional theory calculations have been performed to investigate the properties of the electronic structures of silicon–carbon-doped boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). The geometries of zigzag and armchair BNNTs were initially optimized and the quadrupole coupling constants subsequently calculated. The results indicate that doping of B and N atoms by C and Si atoms has more influence on the electronic structure of the BNNTs than does doping of B and N atoms by Si and C atoms. The changes of the electronic sites of the N atoms are also more significant than those of the B atoms.     

Theoretical Prediction of Adsorption Properties of Carmustine Drug on Various Sites of the Outer Surface of the Single-Walled Boron Nitride Nanotube and Investigation of Urea Effect on Drug Delivery by DFT and MD

In this work, the adsorption behavior of Carmustine (BCNU) drug over the (6,0) zigzag single-wall boron nitride nanotube (SWBNNT) is studied by means of density functional theory calculations and molecular dynamics simulations (MD). The calculated adsorption energies proved that the adsorption of BCNU molecule on SWBNNT is a physisorption process. The natural bond orbital calculations demonstrated that existence of a charge transfer from the SWBNNT to the BCNU molecule. Moreover, quantum theory of atoms in molecules showed that the hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions are two major factors contributed to the overall stabilities of the complexes. Furthermore, interaction of BCNU with the surface of single wall BNNT at 310 K and 1 bar in the present of water and different concentration of Urea molecules has been studied by MD simulation. The MD results confirm that the highest number of hydrogen bond and the lowest value of Lennard-Jones (L-J) energy between nanotube and drug exist in the simulation system with concentration of 1 mol L^?1 Urea.     

First-principles study of interaction between H2 molecules and BN nanotubes with BN divacancies

The interaction between H(2) molecules and boron nitride (BN) single-walled nanotubes with BN divacancies is investigated with density-functional theory. Our calculations reveal that H(2) molecules adsorb physically outside defective BN nanotubes, and cannot enter into BN nanotubes through bare BN divacancies because the energy barrier is as high as 4.62 eV. After the defects are saturated by hydrogen atoms, the physisorption behavior of H(2) molecules is not changed, but the energy barrier of H(2) molecules entering into BN nanotubes through the defects is reduced to 0.58 eV. This phenomenon is ascribed to hydrogen saturation induced reduction of electrostatic potential around the defects.     

Dimer-induced stabilization of H adsorbate cluster on BN(0001) surface

Using first-principles calculations, we have studied successive adsorption of hydrogen atoms on a sp(2)-bonded boron nitride graphitic sheet. Our calculations show that clustering proceeds through the creation of contiguous H-H orthodimer structures stabilizing the H adsorbate cluster on the BN(0001) surface, leading eventually to the formation of hydrogen-contiguous boat-shaped quartets.     

Adsorption of hydrogen molecules on the platinum-doped boron nitride nanotubes

Adsorption of hydrogen molecules on platinum-doped single-walled zigzag (8,0) boron nitride (BN) nanotube is investigated using the density-functional theory. The Pt atom tends to occupy the axial bridge site of the BN tube with the highest binding energy of -0.91 eV. Upon Pt doping, several occupied and unoccupied impurity states are induced, which reduces the band gap of the pristine BN nanotube. Upon hydrogen adsorption on Pt-doped BN nanotube, the first hydrogen molecule can be chemically adsorbed on the Pt-doped BN nanotube without crossing any energy barrier, whereas the second hydrogen molecule has to overcome a small energy barrier of 0.019 eV. At least up to two hydrogen molecules can be chemically adsorbed on a single Pt atom supported by the BN nanotube, with the average adsorption energy of -0.365 eV. Upon hydrogen adsorption on a Pt-dimer-doped BN nanotube, the formation of the Pt dimer not only weakens the interaction between the Pt cluster and the BN nanotube but also reduces the average adsorption energy of hydrogen molecules. These calculation results can be useful in the assessment of metal-doped BN nanotubes as potential hydrogen storage media.     

杂原子掺杂的含单空位缺陷BN纳米管的非线性光学性质

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)研究了杂原子M(M=Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca, C和Si)在B/N单空位缺陷处的掺杂对(6,0)BN纳米管体系非线性光学性质的影响. 采用B3LYP方法共得到了14种几何构型, 并采用BHandHLYP方法计算了这些结构的第一超极化率β₀值. 研究结果表明, 单纯的B或N缺陷几乎不影响BN纳米管体系的非线性光学性质; 与B缺陷处掺杂的体系相比, 杂原子在N缺陷处的掺杂更有利于提高BN纳米管体系的第一超极化率β₀值; 对于同周期掺杂原子, 还原性越强的原子掺杂对BN纳米管体系的第一超极化率β₀值的改善越明显, 表现为β₀(Ⅰ族)>β₀(Ⅱ族)>β₀(Ⅳ族); 对比同主族掺杂原子, 第三周期元素Na和Mg的掺杂能更有效地提高体系的第一超极化率β₀值, 原因主要在于原子半径和还原性等因素共同决定其对BN纳米管体系第一超极化率β₀值的改善程度. 本文研究结果为有效提高BN纳米管体系的非线性光学性质提供了一种新思路, 为基于BN纳米管的非线性光学材料设计提供了有价值的理论信息.     

Structural Characteristics of Hydrogenated Carbon and Boron Nitride Nanotubes: Impact of H?H Interactions

The structural characteristics of perhydrogenated carbon and boron nitride nanotubes are determined by means of quantum chemical calculations. Two families of nanotubes are systematically studied for both carbon and boron nitride, the nanotubes being derived from the perhydrogenated (110) and (111) sheets of diamond and cubic boron nitride. Single‐walled perhydrogenated carbon nanotubes prefer structures analogous to the (111) sheet. In clear contrast, the single‐walled perhydrogenated boron nitride nanotubes prefer structures analogous to the (110) sheet. The significantly different structural characteristics are due to the polarization of hydrogen atoms in the perhydrogenated boron nitride nanotubes. The presence of attractive electrostatic H? H interactions leads to a strong preference for multilayering of the boron nitride sheets and nanotubes. The results are expected to provide new insights into the structural characteristics of main‐group binary hydrides.     

XPS investigations on boron nitride fibre coatings prepared by chemical vapour deposition in comparison to their hydrolytic rate

Investigations on CVD boron nitride films on fibres by means of photoelectron and X-ray spectroscopy resulted in B/N ratios above the stoichiometric value 1 and oxygen contents up to 25 at%. Compared to the hydrolytic rate of the films an apparent dependence was found on the deposition rate and some evidence of the oxygen concentration. CVD fibre coatings exhibit a hexagonal turbostratic structure with extremely small atomic layer plane dimensions, which was proved by transmission electron microscopy. Corresponding to oxygen concentrations in pyrolytic carbon films with similar structure a model is proposed, where the small atomic layers with dimensions of some nanometers cause a relatively high oxygen concentration in the boron nitride films. The oxygen atoms saturate the dangling bonds. Moreover the B/N ratio extents the expected stoichiometric ratio due to the oxygen atoms at nitrogen sites. Received: 15 July 1997 / Revised: 29 January 1998 / Accepted: 2 February 1998     

Electronic structure of sulfur terminated zigzag boron nitride nanotube: A computational study

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to investigate the electronic and structural properties of sulfur (S) terminated models of zigzag boron nitride (BN) nanotube. Four models including pristine, boron (B) tip terminated by S, nitrogen (N) tip terminated by S, and both of B and N tips terminated by S have been considered for optimizations and chemical shielding (CS) parameters calculations. The results indicate that the B–N bond lengths do not detect any changes due to the S-termination but the band gaps and dipole moments detect notable changes especially for the model of the N-tip terminated by the S atoms. The CS parameters also indicate that the atoms of the models are divided into layers with similar parameters in each layer. In the model of the B-tip terminated by the S atoms, the CS parameters indicate strong chemical bonding of N- and S-layers; however, only some attractions between the B- and S-layers of the model of the N-tip terminated by the S atoms have been detected. In the model of B and N tips terminated by the S atoms, the most significant changes among the models are detected.     

Electronic structure of octagonal boron nitride nanotubes

The effect of an octagonal lattice configuration on a boron nitride nanotube is explored using first principle calculations. Calculations show that the formational energy of an octagonal boron nitride nanotube (o‐BNNT) is an exothermic reaction. Boron and nitrogen atoms within an o‐BNNT have an average of 2.88 electrons and 9.09 electrons, respectively, indicating ionic‐like bonding. In addition, the electronic structure of the octagonal boron nitride nanotube shows semiconductive properties, while h‐BNNT is reported to be an insulator. Additional o‐BNNTs with varying diameters are calculated where the results suggest that the diameter has an effect on the binding energy and bandgap of the o‐BNNT. The defect sites of the o‐BNNT are reactive against hydrogen where a boron defect is particularly reactive. Thus, this work suggests that physical and chemical properties of a boron nitride nanotube can be tailored and tuned by controlling the lattice configuration of the nanotube.     

First-principles study of electronic and magnetic properties of transition metal adsorbed h-BNC2 sheets

Adsorption of Fe, Co and Ni atoms on a hybrid hexagonal sheet of graphene and boron nitride is studied using density functional methods. Most favorable adsorption sites for these adatoms are identified for different widths of the graphene and boron nitride regions. Electronic structure and magnetic properties of the TM-adsorbed sheets are then studied in detail. The TM atoms change the electronic structure of the sheet significantly, and the resulting system can be a magnetic semiconductor, semi-metal, or a non-magnetic semiconductor depending on the TM chosen. This gives tunability of properties which can be useful in novel electronics applications. Finally, barriers for diffusion of the adatoms on the sheet are calculated, and their tendency to agglomerate on the sheet is estimated.     

Transformation from chemisorption to physisorption with tube diameter and gas concentration: computational studies on NH3 adsorption in BN nanotubes

Using first-principles computations, we studied NH3 adsorption on a series of zigzag (n,0) single-walled BN nanotubes (BNNTs) and the effect of gas coverage. Tube diameter and NH3 coverage play important roles on the tube-NH3 interaction. Chemisorption of a single NH3 molecule on top of B site is energetically preferable for all the tubes studied, but the adsorption energy decreases sharply with increasing tube diameter, and then gradually approaches the value for NH3 physisorption on BN graphene layer. On the sidewall of (10,0) BNNT, NH3 molecules prefer to pair arrangement on top of B and N atoms opposite in the same hexagon. At low coverages, NH3 molecules are partly chemically bound to BNNTs. With the increase of NH3 coverage, hydrogen bonds form between the adsorbed NH3 molecules or between the NH3 molecules and N atoms in BNNTs. When the coverage reaches 25%, the chemisorption of NH3 transforms to physisorption completely. NH3 adsorption does not modify the overall band structures of BNNTs, irrespective of NH3 coverage, but the band gap is narrowed due to the NH3-tube coupling and tube deformation.