Ab Initio Investigation of the Adsorption of CO2 Molecules on Defect Sites of Graphene Surfaces: Role of Local Vacancy Structures

Abstract

An in-depth investigation into the adsorption of CO2 on graphene vacancies is essential for the understanding of their applications in various industries. Herein, we report an investigation of the effects of vacancy defects on CO2 gas adsorption behavior on graphene surfaces using the density functional theory. The results show that the formation of vacancies leads to various deformations of local carbon structures, resulting in different adsorption capabilities. Even though most carbon atoms studied can only trigger physisorption, there are also carbon sites that are energetically favored for chemisorption. The general order of the adsorption capabilities of the local carbon atoms is as follows: carbon atoms with dangling bonds > carbon atoms shared by five- and six-membered rings and a vacancy > carbon atoms shared by two six-membered rings and a vacancy. A stronger interaction in the adsorption process generally corresponds to more obvious changes in the partial density of states and a larger amount of transferred charge.