Theoretical assessment of the electro-optical features of the group III nitrides (B12N12, Al12N12 and Ga12N12) and group IV carbides (C24, Si12C12 and Ge12C12) nanoclusters encapsulated with alkali metals (Li, Na and K)

Abstract

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out to study the influence of alkali metals (Li, Na and K) encapsulation within the group III nitrides (B12N12, Al12N12 and Ga12N12) and the group IV carbides (C24, Si12C12and Ge12C12) nanoclusters. The encapsulation of Li, Na and K atoms is found to narrow the HOMO–LUMO gaps of the considered clusters. The electronic properties of these clusters, especially the group III nitrides nanoclusters, are strongly sensitive to interaction with the alkali metals. Moreover it is observed that the encapsulation of alkali metals enhances the first hyperpolarizabilities of B12N12 nanocluster. Surprisingly, due to the alkali metals encapsulation within B12N12 nanocluster, the first hyperpolarizability values are remarkably increased to 8505.49 and 122,503.76a.u. for Na@B12N12 and K@B12N12, respectively. Also the TD-DFT calculations at both CAM-B3LYP/6-311+G(d) and PBE0/6-311+G(d) levels of theory are also performed to investigate the origin of first hyperpolarizabilities.