Browsing by Author "LHR TP 8648"

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    Exploration of Diradical Graphene Nanoflakes (GNFs) as NLO based Sensors for NOx
    (Library Information Services COMSATS University Islamabad Lahore Campus, 2023-02-27) Mawra Nasir; SP22-R06-009; Dr. Mazhar Amjad Gilani; LHR TP 8648
    Approximately 78% of the air is composed of nitrogen, which, in its elemental form, is not harmful. However, nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2, N2O) present in the air can have adverse effects on both human health and the environment. In the realm of environmental monitoring, the crucial task of adsorbing or detecting small (toxic) gas molecules relies on appropriate semiconductors. Although graphene nanoflakes (GNFs) find extensive applications in energy storage and optoelectronics, their potential as sensors is not extensively explored. This study investigates the adsorption of nitrogen-containing gaseous molecules i.e NO, NO2, and N2O on trigonal, rhombic, and bowtie GNFs sheets through Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations. The analysis encompasses optimized geometries, adsorption energies, as well as Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) and Electron Density Differences (EDD) analyses to interpret the interaction between GNFs sheets and NOx gases. The theoretical findings reveal strong binding between GNFs sheets and NO2 molecule, with adsorption energies of -30.2, - 17.1, and -29.8 kcalmol-1 for NO2@t-GNFs, NO2@r-GNFs, and NO2@b-GNFs, respectively. Furthermore, Frontier Molecular Orbital (FMO), and Density of State (DOS) analyses underscore the significant impact of gas adsorption on GNF sheets. Interaction Region Indicator (IRI) and Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) analyses indicate the covalent interactions between GNFs sheets and NO, NO2 gases, while van der Waals interactions are confirmed with N2O gases. UV-Vis and IR analyses demonstrate the selectivity of b-GNFs towards NO2 and NO, respectively. Based on Nonlinear Optical (NLO) response, b-GNFs exhibit the highest sensitivity towards NOx. In conclusion, GNFs sheets exhibit promising sensitivity to gaseous molecules, positioning them as potential multimode sensors, including UV, IR, and NLO-based applications. This theoretical insight aids experimentalists in developing novel GNFs-based sensors for the detection of toxic gases.