The adsorption of bromochlorodifluoromethane on pristine and Ge-doped silicon carbide nanotube: a PBC-DFT, NBO, and QTAIM study

In the present investigation, the feasibility of detecting the bromochlorodifluoromethane (BCF) gas molecule onto the outer surface of pristine single-wall silicon carbide nanotube (SiCNT), as well as its germanium-doped structures (SiCGeNT), was carefully evaluated. For achieving this goal, a density functional theory level of study using the Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof exchange-correlation (PBEPBE) functional together with a 6-311G(d) basis set has been used. Subsequently, the B3LYP, CAM-B3LYP, omega B97XD, and M06-2X functionals with a 6-311G(d) basis set were also employed to consider the single-point energies. Natural bond orbital (NBO) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) were implemented by using the PBEPBE/6-311G(d) method, and the results were compatible with the electronic properties. In this regard, the total density of states (TDOSs), the Wiberg bond index (WBI), natural charge, natural electron configuration, donor-acceptor natural bond orbital interactions, and the second-order perturbation energies are performed to explore the nature of the intermolecular interactions. All of the energy calculations and population analyses denote that by adsorping of the gas molecule onto the surface of the considered nanostructures, the intermolecular interactions are of the type of strong physical adsorption. The doped nanotubes have a very high adsorption energy compared with pristine nanotube. Generally, it was revealed that the sensitivity of the adsorption will be increased when the gas molecule interacts with decorated nanotubes and decrease the HOMO-LUMO band gap; therefore, the change of electronic properties can be used to design suitable nanosensors to detect BCF gas.

Automated summary

This study investigated the feasibility of detecting bromochlorodifluoromethane gas molecules adsorbing onto the outer surface of pristine single-wall silicon carbide nanotubes and doped structures. Results showed that doped nanotubes had higher adsorption energy and interactions between gas molecules and nanotubes can decrease the HOMO-LUMO band gap, increasing sensitivity for potential nanosensor applications.