Inorganic gas sensing of green phosphorene nanosheet: insights from density functional theory

Green Phosphorene as a Promising Biosensor for Detection of Furan and p-Xylene as Biomarkers of Disease: A DFT Study

In this work, Green Phosphorene (GP) monolayers are studied as an electronic sensing element for detecting prostate cancer biomarkers from human urine. The adsorption of furan, C₈H₁₀ (p-xylene), and H₂O on pristine GP and S- and Si-doped GP are investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Furan and C₈H₁₀ molecules have been considered as important biomarkers of prostate cancer patients. First-principles DFT calculations are applied, and the results divulged that pristine GP could be a promising candidate for furan and C₈H₁₀ detection. It is manifested that furan and C₈H₁₀ are physisorbed on the S-, and Si-doped GP with small adsorption energy and negligible charge transfer. However, the calculations disclose that furan and C₈H₁₀ are chemically adsorbed on the pristine GP with adsorption energy of −0.73, and −1.46 eV, respectively. Moreover, we observe that a large charge is transferred from furan to the pristine GP with amount of −0.106 e. Additionally, pristine GP shows short recovery time of 1.81 s at room temperature under the visible light, which make it a reusable sensor device. Overall, our findings propose that the pristine GP sensor is a remarkable candidate for sensing of furan and other biomarkers of prostate cancer in the urine of patients.

The elemental 2D materials beyond graphene potentially used as hazardous gas sensors for environmental protection

The intrinsic and electronic properties of elemental two-dimensional (2D) materials beyond graphene are first introduced in this review. Then the studies concerning the application of gas sensing using these 2D materials are comprehensively reviewed. On the whole, the carbon-, nitrogen-, and sulfur-based gases could be effectively detected by using most of them. For the sensing of organic vapors, the borophene, phosphorene, and arsenene may perform it well. Moreover, the G-series nerve agents might be efficiently monitored by the bismuthene. So far, there is still challenge on the material preparation due to the instability of these 2D materials under atmosphere. The synthesis or growth of materials integrated with the technique of surface protection should be associated with the device fabrication to establish a complete process for particular application. This review provides a complete and methodical guideline for scientists to further research and develop the hazardous gas sensors of these 2D materials in order to achieve the purpose of environmental protection.