Adsorption of H2, N2, CO, H2S, NH3, SO2 and CH4 on Li-functionalized graphitic carbon nitride investigated by density functional theory

The interaction of small gas molecules as H2, N2, CO, H2S, NH3, SO2 and CH4 on Li-functionalized graphitic carbon nitride was investigated by using the density functional theory, to explore their gas adsorption properties. The calculated Eads values of all gas molecules on [Li g-C3N4]+ show that these gas molecules present favourable interaction with the lithium atom coordinated on the sheet. NH3 and SO2 molecules present strong interactions, with Eads values of −18.60 and −9.50 kcal mol−1. The natural bond orbital analysis indicates that donor orbitals belong to the lone pairs of oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur and carbon atoms from SO2, N2, NH3, H2S, CO molecules, and acceptor orbitals (LP*) from the lithium atom. Computational studies suggest that H2, N2, CO, H2S, NH3, SO2 and CH4 molecules on [Li g-C3N4]+ present physisorption.