Functionalization of Silicon Surface by Thiadiazole Molecule : a DFT Study

TL;DR

This study uses density functional theory to analyze how thiadiazole molecules adsorb onto silicon surfaces, identifying the most stable bonding configurations and their electronic properties.

Contribution

It provides a detailed theoretical investigation of thiadiazole adsorption mechanisms and electronic effects on silicon surfaces, which is novel in the context of surface functionalization.

Findings

Identified the most stable bonding configurations for thiadiazole on silicon.

Analyzed the electronic structure and surface states introduced by adsorption.

Explored charge transfer and orbital contributions in the adsorption process.

Abstract

The first principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been used to investigate the atomic and electronic properties of thiadiazole adsorption on the Si(001) surface. A (2x2) reconstructed clean substrate surface has been chosen to give the molecule sufficient space to relax into its most favorable position. A total of eighteen bonding model including bridge-type bonding, and [2+2]/[4+2] cycloaddition mechanisms for four structural isomers of thiadiazole molecule have been discussed in these calculations. The most stable bonding configuration for each of the four isomers on the clean silicon surface has been determined by performing total energy calculations. Electronic structures of the stable surfaces have been investigated by plotting the total density of states (TDOS) and energy band diagrams. Charge densities have been plotted to determine the origin of the surface states appeared in the fundamental band gap of silicon. Finally, partial density of states (PDOS) have been plotted to see the contributions from s- and p-orbitals.