Sn3C2 monolayer with transition metal adatom for gas sensing: a density functional theory studies
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nanotechnology
Abstract
The gas sensing properties of pristine Sn3C2 monolayer and different transition metal adatom
(TM-Sn3C2, where TM=Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Rh, Pd and Ag) was investigated using van der
Waals corrected density functional theory. The understanding and potential of use of Sn3C2
monolayers as sensors or adsorbent for CO, CO2, NO, NO2 and SO2 gaseous molecules is
evaluated by calculating the adsorption and desorption energetics. From the calculated adsorption
energies, we found that the pristine Sn3C2 monolayer and 3d TM has desirable properties for
removal of the considered molecules based on their high adsorption energy, however the 4d TM is
applicable as recoverable sensors. We applied an Arrhenius-type equation to evaluate the recovery
time for the desorption of the molecules on the pristine and TM adatom on Sn3C2 monolayer. We
found that the negative adsorption energies from −1 to −2 eV of the molecules resulted in easier
recovery of the adsorbed gases at reasonable temperatures compared to adsorption energies in
between 0 and −1 eV (weakly physiosorbed) and below −2 eV (strongly chemisorbed). Hence,
we obtained that the Rh–Sn3C2, Ru–Sn3C2, Pd–Sn3C2, Pd–Sn3C2, and Rh–Sn3C2 monolayers are
good recoverable scavengers for the CO, CO2, NO, NO2, and SO2 molecules. The current
theoretical calculations provide new insight on the effect of TM adatoms on the structural,
electronic, and magnetic properties of the Sn3C2 monolayer and different transition metal adatom
as well as shed light on their application as gas sensors/scavengers.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
gas sensing, 2D monolayer, transition metal adatom, density functional theory