DFT investigation of BN, AlN, and SiC fullerene sensors for arsine gas detection and removal

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Jasim, Saade Abdalkareem^a | Kzar, Hamzah H.^b | Jalil, Abduladheem Turki^{c; *} | Kadhim, Mustafa M.^{d; e; f} | Mahmoud, Mustafa Z.^{g; h} | Al-Gazally, Moaed E.ⁱ | Ali Nasser, Hind^j | Ahmadi, Zahra^{k; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Al-Maarif University College, Al-Anbar-Ramadi, Iraq | [b] Department of Chemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Al-Qasim Green University, Al-Qasim, Iraq | [c] Medical Laboratories Techniques Department, Al-Mustaqbal University College, Babylon, Hilla, Iraq | [d] College of Technical Engineering, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq | [e] Department of Dentistry, Kut University College, Kut, Wasit, Iraq | [f] Department of Pharmacy, Osol Aldeen University College, Baghdad, Iraq | [g] Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al- Kharj, Saudi Arabia | [h] Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia | [i] College of Medicine, University of Al-Ameed, Karbala, Iraq | [j] College of Pharmacy, Al-Ayen University, Thi-Qar, Iraq | [k] Independent Researcher

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding authors: Abduladheem Turki Jalil, Medical Laboratories Techniques Department, Al-Mustaqbal University College, Babylon, Hilla, 51001, Iraq. E-mail: abedalazeem799@gmail.com (A.T. Jalil) and Zahra Ahmadi, E-mail: z.ahmadi.chem@gmail.com (Z. Ahmadi).

Abstract:  Quantum chemical density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to investigate the adsorption of arsine (AsH3) gaseous substance at the surface of representative models of boron nitride (B16N16), aluminum nitride (Al16N16), and silicon carbide (Si16C16) fullerene-like nanocages. The results indicated that the adsorption processes of AsH3 could be taken place by each of B16N16, Al16N16, and Si16C16 nanocages. Moreover, the electronic molecular orbital properties indicated that the electrical conductivity of nanocages were changed after the adsorption processes enabling them to be used for sensor applications. To analyze the strength of interacting models, the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) was employed. As a typical achievement of this work, it could be mentioned that the investigated Si16C16 fullerene-like nanocage could work as a suitable adsorbent for the AsH3 gaseous substance proposing gas-sensor role for the Si16C16 fullerene-like nanocage.

Keywords: Nanocage, arsine, adsorption, density functional theory, AIM

DOI: 10.3233/MGC-210145

Journal: Main Group Chemistry, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 513-521, 2022