Published
2025-06-30
Issue
Section
Original Research Article
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Huda AbdulkareemJasem Mohammed, Hammood M. Yasir, Shireen Abdulmohsin Azeez

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The Author(s) warrant that permission to publish the article has not been previously assigned elsewhere.
Author(s) shall retain the copyright of their work and grant the Journal/Publisher right for the first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under:
OA - Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). This license allows for the copying, distribution and transmission of the work, provided the correct attribution of the original creator is stated. Adaptation and remixing are also permitted.

This license intends to facilitate free access to, as well as the unrestricted reuse of, original works of all types for non-commercial purposes.
How to Cite
Electronic properties for interaction of explosive organic molecule (RDX) with pristine and Pd-Doped nanoflakes structures: A density functional theory study
Huda AbdulkareemJasem Mohammed
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, 10052, Iraq
Hammood M. Yasir
Suq Ash Shuyukh Hospital, ThiQar Health Directorate, Suq Ash Shuyukh, 64016, Iraq
Shireen Abdulmohsin Azeez
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, 10052, Iraq
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ace.v8i2.5667
Keywords: DFT; nanosensor; nanoflakes; explosive; organic
Abstract
Graphene Nanoflakes (GNF) has used widely in the nanoelectronic and materials science field due to due to their mechanical and physical properties. The combination of the Density Functional Theory (DFT) computational method with the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G basis set, executed via the Gaussian 09 program, was used in this study to investigate the nanosensor's role in detecting the explosive organic molecule (RDX). This was achieved by determining the change in the band gap energy of the sensor, which influences its conductivity. The graphene sensor was modified by the addition of a substitutional palladium (Pd) atom. The results demonstrate an enhancement in device performance, evidenced by the change in the energy gap for all molecules studied. The better addition for the RDX sensor was found Pd atom due to improved electronic properties such as optimized structure, dipole moment, a decrease in the HOMO-LUMO energy gap, total energy, and density of states.
References
[1]. Ali, M. D., Starczewska, A., Das, T. K., &Jesionek, M. (2025). Exploration of Sp-Sp2 Carbon Networks: Advances in Graphyne Research and Its Role in Next-Generation Technologies. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(11), 5140.
[2]. Abbas, R. F., Hassan, M. J., &Rheima, A. M. (2024). A Sustainable Modified Hummers Method for Synthesizing Graphene Oxide Nanosheets. Iraqi Journal of Applied Physics, 20(2A), 317-320.
[3]. Ray, S. C. (2024). Possible Magnetic Behaviors of 2D-Graphene (: H/N/Si) Materials: A Brief Review. e-Journal of Surface Science and Nanotechnology, 22(4), 296-315.
[4]. Haider, A., Rasheed, M. F., Abrar, A., Mumtaz, A., Zeb, A., Rehman, M. U., ...& Ashraf, S. (2025). THE CHEMISTRY OF 2D MATERIALS FROM GRAPHENE TO BEYOND. Kashf Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2(01), 197-221.
[5]. Jeong, J., & Lee, W. (2024). Calculation of Electronic Structures of Graphene Nanoflakes by Hückel Molecular Orbital Method: Exploration of the Shape, Size, and Edge Effects. Korean Journal of Materials Research, 34(12), 620-632.
[6]. Nasir, M. (2024). Exploration of Diradical Graphene Nanoflakes (GNFs) as NLO based Sensors for NOx (Doctoral dissertation, Chemistry Department COMSATS university Islamabad Lahore Campus).
[7]. Lee, Y. H., Kang, H., Kim, S., Yang, G., Yang, S., Oh, J. H., & Choi, S. (2025). Structural transformation of solid carbons produced from the methane pyrolysis process for turquoise hydrogen production. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
[8]. Kadhem, M., Ajeel, N. B. S., Ajeel, F. N., &Khudhair, A. M. (2024). Investigating the Effects of TiO Impurities on the Electronic Properties of Graphene Nanoflakes Using DFT Method. Sumer Journal for Pure Science.
[9]. Chen, G., Koide, T., Nakamura, J., &Ariga, K. (2025). Nanoarchitectonics for Pentagon Defects in Carbon: Properties and Catalytic Role in Oxygen Reduction Reaction. Small Methods, 2500069.
[10]. Soave, R., Cargnoni, F., &Trioni, M. I. (2024). Thermodynamic Stability and Electronic Properties of Graphene Nanoflakes. C, 10(1), 5.
[11]. Tran-Van, A. F., & Wegner, H. A. (2014). Strategies in organic synthesis for condensed arenes, coronene, and graphene. Polyarenes I, 121-157.
[12]. Dai, C., Chen, M., Lin, Y., Qi, R., Luo, C., Peng, H., & Lin, H. (2022). High performance gas sensors based on layered cobaltite nanoflakes with moisture resistance. Applied Surface Science, 604, 154487.
[13]. Dai, C., Chen, M., Lin, Y., Qi, R., Luo, C., Peng, H., & Lin, H. (2022). High performance gas sensors based on layered cobaltite nanoflakes with moisture resistance. Applied Surface Science, 604, 154487.
[14]. Nasir, M. (2024). Exploration of Diradical Graphene Nanoflakes (GNFs) as NLO based Sensors for NOx (Doctoral dissertation, Chemistry Department COMSATS University Islamabad Lahore Campus).
[15]. Darwish, M. A., Abd-Elaziem, W., Elsheikh, A., &Zayed, A. A. (2024). Advancements in nanomaterials for nanosensors: a comprehensive review. Nanoscale Advances.
[16]. Sorkin, V., & Zhang, Y. W. (2011). Graphene-based pressure nano-sensors. Journal of molecular modeling, 17, 2825-2830.
[17]. Deji, R., Verma, A., Choudhary, B. C., & Sharma, R. K. (2022). New insights into NO adsorption on alkali metal and transition metal doped graphene nanoribbon surface: a DFT approach. Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modelling, 111, 108109.
[18]. Dhahi, H. A., Ghorbani, S. R., Arabi, H., &Algharagholy, L. A. (2025). Graphene-Based Selective Detection of Explosive Molecules. Journal of Electronic Materials, 54(3), 1653-1663.
[19]. Abbas, R. F., Hassan, M. J. M., &Rheima, A. M. (2024). Adsorption of fast green dye onto Fe3O4 MNPs and GO/Fe3O4 MNPs synthesized by photo-irradiation method: Isotherms, thermodynamics, kinetics, and reuse studies. Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment, 6, 100104.
[20]. Chatterjee, S., Deb, U., Datta, S., Walther, C., & Gupta, D. K. (2017). Common explosives (TNT, RDX, HMX) and their fate in the environment: Emphasizing bioremediation. Chemosphere, 184, 438-451.
[21]. Doshi, M. (2021). Computational Design of Carbon Nanotube Sensors for Gas Phase Explosives Detection. The University of Texas at Austin.
[22]. Bhattacharyya, S., & Singh, A. K. (2016). Lifshitz transition and modulation of electronic and transport properties of bilayer graphene by sliding and applied normal compressive strain. Carbon, 99, 432-438.
[23]. Hohenberg, P., & Kohn, W. (1964). Inhomogeneous electron gas. Physical review, 136(3B), B864.
[24]. Kohn, W., & Sham, L. J. (1965). Self-consistent equations including exchange and correlation effects. Physical review, 140(4A), A1133.
[25]. Abbas, M., Ali, U., Faizan, M., & Siddique, M. B. A. (2021). Spirofluorene based small molecules as an alternative to traditional non-fullerene acceptors for organic solar cells. Optical and Quantum Electronics, 53(5), 246.
[26]. Nenadis, N., &Tsimidou, M. Z. (2024). Metrological aspects of a gas-phase DFT/B3LYP quantum-chemical approach to prioritize radical scavenging activity among a group of olive oil phenols. Exploration of Foods and Foodomics, 2(4), 326-338.
[27]. Mohamed, A., Visco Jr, D. P., Breimaier, K., &Bastidas, D. M. (2025). Effect of Molecular Structure on the B3LYP-Computed HOMO–LUMO Gap: A Structure− Property Relationship Using Atomic Signatures. ACS omega.
[28]. Moeini, V., &Gazi, A. H. M. (2024). Doped BC2NNTs with gallium: A new sensor to detect the presence of ozone gas in the gaseous environment. Computational and Theoretical Chemistry, 1235, 114578.








