2D Janus and non-Janus diamanes with an in-plane negative Poisson's ratio for energy applications

Abstract

Motivated by the successful synthesis of 2D C2F diamanes [Bakharev, P.V. et al., Nat. Nanotechnol. 15, 59–66 (2020)], we have systematically investigated the structural stability, in-plane mechanical, optoelectronic, photocatalytic, piezoelectric, and thermoelectric properties of non-Janus and Janus diamanes monolayers named as C2H, C2F, C2Cl, C4HF, C4HCl and C4FCl. The structural stability is confirmed by cohesive energy, phonon dispersion spectra, and mechanical properties. The electronic properties has been calculated by HSE06 functional and the band gap are found to be 3.85, 5.64, 2.32, 4.16, 0.73 and 1.91 eV for C2H, C2F, C2Cl, C4HF, C4HCl and C4FCl, respectively. The hydrogen-containing non-Janus and Janus diamanes monolayers have a higher negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) and therefore are good auxetic materials. From the Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus of each configuration of non-Janus and Janus diamanes monolayer, anisotropic behavior was displayed. From the optical properties calculations, the refractive index values are around 1.5, which means that it will be a transparent monolayered materials. Also, C2Cl, C4HCl and C4FCl monolayers displayed high absorption spectra with an order of 105 cm−1 in the visible region, which shows great applications in optoelectronic devices. Additionally, the valence and conduction band-edge positions of 2D Janus and non-Janus diamanes of C2H, C2F, and C2Cl and C4HF monolayers have to straddle the redox potentials of water. It means that the photogenerated electrons and holes are sufficient to drive the overall water splitting. Whereas non-Janus diamanes C4HCl, and C4FCl monolayers displayed only water oxidation. The investigated in-plane piezoelectric coefficient has larger in non-Janus diamanes C4HF, C4HCl, and C4FCl monolayers. Therefore, it is very useful in the field of piezoelectric applications. From the thermoelectric properties, the non-Janus and Janus diamanes monolayers have great thermoelectric efficiency and were found to be 10.52 and 10.63% for C2H and C2F, respectively. Our results demonstrate the new class of 2D carbon-based monolayers has good auxetic materials as well as a wide range of applications in optoelectronics, piezoelectric, and thermoelectric fields.