First Principles Calculations Study of Lithium-Montmorillonite for Humidity Sensor Application

Abstract

In this study, we performed calculations on the water molecule adsorbed on lithium montmorillonite using first principles-calculation by means of electronic-structure calculation, with emphasis on approaches based on Density Functional Theory (DFT). The mechanism of water molecule adsorption on the surface of lithium-montmorillonite was investigated from the electronic structure point of view to seek the possibility of using montmorillonite as humidity sensor. The effects of the Van der Waals force to the electronic properties of water molecule on the surface of montmorillonite was also considered and obtained that the structure is more stable energetically. The interaction of water molecule with surface of montmorillonite yields the rotation of the hydrogen atoms of water molecule due to the occurrence of repulsive interaction between two positive ions of hydrogen of water molecule and lithium. From the calculations, lithium-montmorillonite can be considered as a good material for humidity sensor application since there is an electrical change observed even though it is a relatively small that is 0.657 eV.