Effects of heteroatoms on the electronic,sensor, and adsorption properties of graphene

The effects of doping heteroatoms on the structure, electronic and adsorption properties of graphene are investigated using density functional theory calculations. Six different doped graphenes (with Al, B, Si, N, P, and S) are considered, and to obtain the interaction and adsorption properties, three sulfur-containing molecules (H₂S, SO₂, and thiophene) were interacted with selected graphenes. The adsorption energies (E _ad) in the gas phase and solvents show the exothermic interaction for all complexes. The maximum E _ad values are observed for aluminum doped graphene (AG) and silicon doped graphene (SiG), and adsorption energies in the solvent are not so different from those in the gas phase. NBO calculations show that the AG and SiG complexes have the highest E ⁽²⁾ interaction energies and simple graphene (G) and nitrogen doped graphene (NG) have the least E ⁽²⁾ energies. Population analyses show that doping heteroatoms change the energy gap. This gap changes more during the interaction and these changes make these structures useful in sensor devices. All calculated data confirm better adsorption of SO₂ by graphenes versus H₂S and thiophene. Among all graphenes, AG and then SiG are the best adsorbents for these structures.     

Adsorption of molecular hydrogen on inorganometallic complexes B<Subscript>2</Subscript>H<Subscript>4</Subscript>M (M=Li,Be, Sc,Ti, V)

Molecular interaction between hydrogen molecules and B₂H₄M (M=Li, Be, Sc, Ti, V) complexes has been studied using the DFT method (M06 functional) and 6-311++G** basis set. The hydrogen uptake capacity of the complexes considered is higher than the target set by the US Department of Energy (5.5 wt% by 2020). The metal atom bound strongly to the B₂H₄ substrate. Adsorption of molecular hydrogen on Be-, Ti-, and V-decorated complexes is thermodynamically possible for all the pressures and temperatures considered whereas it is unfavorable for Li-decorated complexes for all the pressure and temperatures. For the Sc-doped complexes, adsorption of molecular hydrogen is favorable below 330 K and entire pressure range considered. All the H₂ adsorbed complexes are kinetically stable. For all the complexes, the interaction between the inorganometallic complexes and the H₂ molecules adsorbed is attractive whereas that between adsorbed H₂ molecules is repulsive. We have also performed molecular dynamics simulations to confirm the same number of H₂ molecule adsorption from the simulations and DFT calculations.     

A DFT study on electronic and optical properties of aspirin-functionalized B<Subscript>12</Subscript>N<Subscript>12</Subscript> fullerene-like nanocluster

In this work, the interaction of an aspirin (AS) molecule with the external surface of a boron nitride fullerene-like nanocage (B₁₂N₁₂) is studied by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Equilibrium geometry, electronic properties, adsorption energy and thermodynamic stability are identified for all of the adsorbed configurations. Four stable configurations are obtained for the interaction of AS molecule with the B₁₂N₁₂ nanocage, with adsorption energies in the range of ?10.1 to ?37.7 kcal/mol (at the M06-2X/6-31 + G** level). Our results clearly indicate that Al-doping of the B₁₂N₁₂ tends to increase the adsorption energy and thermodynamic stability of AS molecule over this nanocage. We further study the adsorption of AS over the B₁₂N₁₂ and B₁₁N₁₂Al in the presence of a protic (water) or aprotic (benzene) solvent. It is found that the calculated binding distances and adsorption energies by the PCM and CPCM solvent models are very similar, especially for the B₁₂N₁₂ complexes. According to time-dependent DFT calculations, the Al-doping can shift estimated λ _max values toward longer wavelengths (redshift). Solvent effects also have an important influence on the calculated electronic absorption spectra of AS-B₁₂N₁₂ complexes.     

DFT,AIM, and NBO study of the interaction of simple and sulfur-doped graphenes with molecular halogens,CH3OH,CH3SH,H2O,and H2S

Graphene is an important material in adsorption processes because of its high surface. In this work, the interactions between graphene (G), S-doped graphene (SG), and 2S-doped graphene (2SG) with eight small molecules including molecular halogens, CH₃OH, CH₃SH, H₂O, and H₂S were studied using density functional theory calculations. The adsorption energies showed that the SG was the best adsorbent, fluorine was the best adsorbate, and all molecular halogens were adsorbed on graphenes better than the other molecules. Most adsorption processes in the gas phase were exothermic with small positive ΔG _ads. Moreover, the solvent effect on the adsorption process was examined and all ΔH _ads and ΔG _ads values for adsorption processes tended to be more negative in all solvents. Therefore, most adsorption processes in the solvents were thermodynamically favorable. The second order perturbation energies obtained from NBO calculations confirmed that the interactions between molecular halogens and our molecules had more strength than those of other molecules. The Laplacian of ρ values obtained from the AIM calculations indicated that the type of interaction in all our complexes was one of closed shell interaction. The MO results and DOS plots also revealed that sulfur doping could increase the conductivity of graphene and this conductivity was enhanced more when they interacted with molecular halogens.     

First-principles study of methanol adsorption on heteroatom-doped phosphorene

First-principles calculations were firstly employed to investigate the adsorption of methanol on pristine and X-doped phosphorene (X=B, C, N and O). The N and O doping improved the adsorption of phosphorene with CH₃OH gas molecule, while B and C doping were almost not beneficial.     

First-principles characterization of formate and carboxyl adsorption on stoichiometric CeO2(111) and CeO2(110) surfaces

Molecular adsorption of formate and carboxyl on stoichiometric CeO₂(111) and CeO₂(110) surfaces was studied using periodic density functional theory (DFT+U) calculations. Two distinguishable adsorption modes (strong and weak) of formate are identified. The bidentate configuration is more stable than the monodentate adsorption configuration. Both formate and carboxyl bind at the more open CeO₂(110) surface are stronger. The calculated vibrational frequencies of two adsorbed species are consistent with the experimental measurements. Finally, the effects of U parameters on the adsorption of formate and carboxyl over both CeO₂ surfaces were investigated. We found that the geometrical configurations of two adsorbed species are not affected by different U parameters (U = 0, 5, and 7). However, the calculated adsorption energy of carboxyl pronouncedly increases with the U value while the adsorption energy of formate only slightly changes (<0.2 eV). The Bader charge analysis shows the opposite charge transfer occurs for formate and carboxyl adsorption where the adsorbed formate is negatively charge while the adsorbed carboxyl is positively charged. Interestingly, with the increasing U parameter, the amount of charge is also increased.     

Experimental, quantum chemical calculations, and molecular dynamic simulations insight into the corrosion inhibition properties of 2-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)oxazolo[5,4-f][1,10]phenanthroline on mild steel

2-(6-Methylpyridin-2-yl)oxazolo[5,4-f][1,10]phenanthroline (MOP) was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and ¹³C NMR spectra. MOP was evaluated as a corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution using the standard gravimetric technique at 303–333 K. Quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were applied to analyze the experimental data and elucidate the adsorption behavior and inhibition mechanism of MOP. Results obtained show that MOP is an efficient inhibitor for mild steel in H₂SO₄ solution. The inhibition efficiency was found to increase with increase in MOP concentration but decreased with temperature. Activation parameters and Gibbs free energy for the adsorption process using statistical physics were calculated and discussed. The adsorption of MOP was found to involve both physical and chemical adsorption mechanisms. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that nitrogen and oxygen atoms present in the MOP structure were the active reaction sites for the inhibitor adsorption on mild steel surface via donor–acceptor interactions between the lone pairs on nitrogen and oxygen atoms together with the π-electrons of the heterocyclic and the vacant d-orbital of iron atoms. The adsorption of MOP on Fe (1 1 0) surface was parallel to the surface so as to maximize contact, as shown in the MD simulations. The experiments together with DFT and MD simulations provide further insight into the mechanism of interaction between MOP and mild steel.     

Quantum-chemical modeling of ethylene and acetylene adsorption on gold clusters

The interaction of ethylene and acetylene molecules with planar (2D) and nonplanar (3D) gold clusters Au _n (n = 10, 12, 20) was studied by the density functional theory (DFT) method. The coordination of hydrocarbons at the vertices, edges, and fragments of the Au₃ cluster was shown to form π, di-σ, and μ type complexes, respectively. The standard Gibbs energy and the C-C bond length of the hydrocarbon change during its adsorption in the series μ > di-σ > π complexes. The highest selectivity in adsorption of acetylene relative to that of ethylene was achieved on Au₁₂ (3D) and Au₂₀ (2D) clusters.     

Conformational preferences of RCH2CH2CN (R = CH3, F, Cl) cyanides and their corresponding isocyanides

The structure and relative stability of the different conformers of RCH₂CH₂CN (R = CH₃, F, Cl) cyanides and their corresponding isocyanides have been investigated through the use of high-level ab initio G4 theory as well as B3LYP/aug-cc-pVQZ and M06/aug-cc-pVQZ density functional theory calculations. This theoretical survey ratifies that the gauche conformer of butyronitrile is slightly more stable than the anti one, so that in the gas phase and at room temperature this compound should exist as a mixture of 57 % of the former and 43 % of the latter. Similar stability trends are predicted for the corresponding isocyanide isomer. Conversely, when the terminal methyl group of butyronitrile (or its isocyanide isomer) is replaced by F or Cl, the stability trends are reversed and the anti conformer becomes slightly more stable than the gauche one. These changes in relative stabilities could be traced through an analysis of the reduced density gradient which shows the existence of a stabilizing interaction between the terminal methyl group and the cyano (or isocyano) group in butyronitrile (or its isocyanide isomer), which becomes repulsive when this methyl group is replaced by F or Cl.     

Investigation of the solvent effect,molecular structure,electronic properties and adsorption mechanism of Tegafur anticancer drug on Graphene nanosheet surface as drug delivery system by molecular dynamics simulation and density functional approach

To understanding the adsorption mechanism and the induced effects of an anticancer drug, Tegafur molecule, on the surface of Graphene nanosheet (GNS) as a drug delivery system, we have performed density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) methods. DFT calculations give valuable information on the structure, orientation, adsorption energy and charge transfer of nanosheet-molecule in the equilibrium GNS-Tegafur complexes in the gas phase as well as in the aqueous phase, i.e., water. The optimization of GNS-Tegafur geometries shows that drug molecule tends to adsorb via its six-membered aromatic ring to the hexagonal ring of Graphene nanosheet by π–π stacking interaction at the most stable physisorption configuration. Furthermore, the calculated solvation energy (E_sol) represented by a polarizable continuum model show the significant increase in the solubility of GNS after drug adsorption on its surface in the presence of H₂O solvent which leading to the possible applications of GNS in the drug delivery systems. MD simulation is also used to determine the effect of drug concentrations on dynamic properties of Tegafur adsorption on the GNS surfaces in the solution phase. Based on the obtained MD results, it is found that by increasing drug concentration, the van der Waals (vdW) interaction energy becomes more negative and the stabilities of the simulated complexes increase.     

过渡金属掺杂的g-GaN吸附Cl2和CO气体分子的第一性原理研究

基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算, 系统研究了类石墨烯氮化镓(g-GaN)和掺杂过渡金属原子(TM)的 g-GaN 对 Cl₂和CO气体分子的吸附行为。结果表明, Cl₂和 CO在本征 g-GaN上的吸附均为物理吸附, 2个体系的吸附能均为正值, 表明体系不稳定。相反, Cl₂和 CO在 Fe和 Co掺杂的 g-GaN上吸附时的吸附能为负值, 且吸附能较小, 表明吸附体系稳定。通过分析态密度、电荷密度差和能带结构等性质, 可以得出结论:过渡金属原子的引入能有效增强气体分子与 g-GaN之间的相互作用。     

The response of selected isomers of B80 buckyball toward NH3 adsorption: a density functional theory investigation

Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) and B3LYP/6-31+G(d) levels were carried out for the adsorption of NH₃ on three symmetric isomers of B₈₀ {C ₁, T _h, I _h}. To investigate the binding features of B₈₀ isomers with NH₃, different studies including the structural and electronic parameters, the ¹⁴N electric field gradient tensors and the atoms in molecules (AIM) properties were considered. The calculated parameters by these investigations can be used as powerful tools to find out some of the unknown aspects of electronic structures of the boron buckyball and its isomers. According to previous studies, boron buckyball as an amphoteric and a hard molecule has two distinct reactive sites defined as cap and frame which act as an acid and a base, respectively. Regarding the obtained results in this study, all the isomers had the same exposure when NH₃ molecule reacted with the external wall of B₈₀. For instance, the stability of N–B bond in the cap site was significantly more than the stability of N–B bond in the frame. Moreover, the adsorption of NH₃ on frame site showed a considerable reduction in HOMO–LUMO energy gap. According to AIM theory, an electrostatic nature was observed for N–B interaction. Concerning the selected isomers of buckyball, the capability of the NH₃–B₈₀ complexes to localize electron at the N–B bond critical points depend on the reaction sites significantly. In general, ¹⁴N nuclear quadruple coupling constants and asymmetry parameter reveal a remarkable effect of NH₃ adsorption on electronic structure of the B₈₀.     

Density functional theory investigation on selective adsorption of VOCs on borophene

In the field of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pollution control, adsorption is one of the major control methods, and effective adsorbents are desired in this technology. In this work, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations are employed to investigate the adsorption of typical VOCs molecules on the two-dimensional material borophenes. The results demonstrate that both structure of χ₃ and β₁₂ borophene can chemically adsorb ethylene and formaldehyde with forming chemical bonds and releasing large energy. However, other VOCs, including ethane, methanol, formic acid, methyl chloride, benzene and toluene, are physically adsorbed with weak interaction. The analysis of density of states (DOS) reveals that the chemical adsorption changes the conductivity of borophenes, while the physical adsorption has no distinct effect on the conductivity. Therefore, both χ₃ and β₁₂ borophene are appropriate adsorbents for selective adsorption of ethylene and formaldehyde, and they also have potential in gas sensor applications due to the obvious conductivity change during the adsorption.     

过渡金属掺杂的g-GaN吸附Cl2和CO气体分子的第一性原理研究

基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算,系统研究了类石墨烯氮化镓(g-GaN)和掺杂过渡金属原子(TM)的g-GaN对Cl₂和CO气体分子的吸附行为。结果表明,Cl₂和CO在本征g-GaN上的吸附均为物理吸附,2个体系的吸附能均为正值,表明体系不稳定。相反,Cl₂和CO在Fe和Co掺杂的g-GaN上吸附时的吸附能为负值,且吸附能较小,表明吸附体系稳定。通过分析态密度、电荷密度差和能带结构等性质,可以得出结论：过渡金属原子的引入能有效增强气体分子与g-GaN之间的相互作用。     

First principle study of adsorption of boron-halogenated system on pristine graphyne

To ensure the possibility of using graphyne as a gas sensor, we have studied the adsorption of boron-halogenated system on pristine graphyne with the help of density functional theory using generalized gradient approximation. Depending on binding energy the most stable orientation, adsorption strength and optimal distance between the above mention molecules and graphyne surface have been determined. The band gap of graphyne slightly increases with the adsorption of the boron-halogenated system. The graphyne system behaves as n-type semiconductor when it interacts with BI₃ and BCl₃ molecules, and it behaves as p-type semiconductor when interaction with BF₃ molecule takes place. Our result reveals that the electronic properties of pristine graphyne are highly influenced by the adsorption of boron-halogenated molecule. We have observed that pristine graphyne has zero electric dipole moment, but with the interaction of boron-halogenated molecule, a significant change in the electric dipole moment takes place. Hence, by measuring the electric dipole moment change, graphyne-based gas sensor can be design for the detection of above-mentioned molecules.     

Theoretical study of H⋯P and X⋯P interactions of methylphosphines with HSX molecules

Ab initio calculations were used to analyze the interactions between thiohypohalous acids (HSX; X = F, Cl, Br, I) and methylphosphine derivatives (PH _n Me_3?n , n = 0–3) at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory. Interaction of HSX with PH _n Me_3?n leads to both hydrogen bond (HSX–PH _n Me_3?n –HB) as well as halogen bond (HSX–PH _n Me_3?n –XB) complexes. Stabilities of both HB and XB complexes increase with basicity of the phosphines. However, HB complexes of a phosphine molecule with different HSX have the same order of stabilities, but XB complexes of heavier thiohypohalous acids are more stable. Electron densities of complexes were characterized with the atoms in molecules methodology. The charge transfer within dimers was analyzed by means of natural bond orbitals.     

EXAFS and DFT studies of microscopic structure with different density upon Zn(II) adsorption on anatase TiO2

Microscopic structures of Zn(II) adsorbed on anatase TiO₂ surface with different densities were studied using extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Quantitative analysis of the EXAFS spectra showed that microscopic structures of Zn(II) were fourfold coordinated complexes, and different microscopic structures were present of the solid surface. Three modes of corner–corner/sharing-corner/sharing-edge adsorptions on anatase (101) face cluster were calculated by the DFT method. The results from DFT method were consistent with the EXAFS fittings. The optimized Zn–O average distance of the Zn–O tetrahedron was determined as about 2.00 Å. The Zn–Ti distance was 3.69 Å for the corner–corner adsorption, 3.35 Å for the sharing-corner adsorption, and 3.02 Å for the sharing-edge adsorption. According to the adsorption energies calculated by the DFT method, the microscopic structure of corner–corner adsorption was less stable than those of the other adsorption modes. With the increasing adsorption density, the corner–corner adsorption mode would be enhanced more intensively than the other adsorption modes.     

Synthesis,experimental and theoretical characterization,and antimicrobial studies of some Fe(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) complexes of 2-(4,6-dihydroxypyrimidin-2-ylamino)naphthalene-1,4-dione

The work reported the synthesis and characterisation of Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ni²⁺ complexes of 2-(4,6-dihydroxypyrimidin-2-ylamino)naphthalene-1,4-dione (HL). The spectroscopic and elemental analysis results obtained were consistent with the adoption of the formulas, [ML₂] (M = Fe and Co) and [ML₂(H₂O)] (M = Ni) for the metal complexes. Electronic spectra and magnetic moments of the metal complexes corroborated octahedral geometry for Ni(II) complex and tetrahedral geometry for Fe(II) and Co(II) complexes. However, quantum-chemical calculations using density functional theory predicted trigonal bipyramidal geometry for Ni(II) complex and provided corroborative explanations for the structures of the other complexes. Conductance measurements in dimethylsulfoxide indicate that the complexes are non-electrolytes. The antimicrobial potential of the compounds was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella oxytoca, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, and Rhizopus stolonifer. The compounds gave moderate to good antimicrobial activity. However, the bacterial and fungal organisms were more susceptible to the cobalt complex and ligand respectively than the other compounds at concentration of 10 mg/mL. The compounds were also assessed for their antioxidant potential using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The compounds displayed good DPPH radical scavenging activities. The nickel complex exhibited the best DPPH radical scavenging activity compared to the other compounds.     

Competition between chalcogen bond and halogen bond interactions in YOX<Subscript>4</Subscript>:NH<Subscript>3</Subscript> (Y = S,Se; X = F,Cl, Br) complexes: An ab initio investigation

Using ab initio calculations, the geometries, interaction energies and bonding properties of chalcogen bond and halogen bond interactions between YOX₄ (Y = S, Se; X = F, Cl, Br) and NH₃ molecules are studied. These binary complexes are formed through the interaction of a positive electrostatic potential region (σ-hole) on the YOX₄ with the negative region in the NH₃. The ab initio calculations are carried out at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level, through analysis of molecular electrostatic potentials, quantum theory of atoms in molecules and natural bond orbital methods. Our results indicate that even though the chalcogen and halogen bonds are mainly dominated by electrostatic effects, but the polarization and dispersion effects also make important contributions to the total interaction energy of these complexes. The examination of interaction energies suggests that the chalcogen bond is always favored over the halogen bond for all of the binary YOX₄:NH₃ complexes.     

Theoretical study of the complex reaction of O(3P) with cis-2-butene

The complex triplet potential energy surface for the reaction of the triplet oxygen atom O(³P) with cis-2-butene is investigated at the CBS-QB3 level of theory. The different possible isomerization and dissociation pathways, including both O-additions and H-abstractions, are thoroughly studied. Our calculations show that as found for the trans-2-butene reaction, in the high-pressure limit, the major product is CH₃CHC(O)H + CH₃ (P1), whereas in the low-pressure limit the most thermodynamically stable product forms CH₃CO + CH₃CH₂ (P4). The experimental negative activation energy reported for the addition step is very well reproduced at the CBS-QB3 level of theory. Various thermodynamic and kinetic values of interest for these reactions are predicted for the first time. A discussion on the negative activation energy for the addition step of the trans- and cis-2-butene reactions with O(³P) focussing on the addition reactant complexes is presented.