A theoretical study is presented
on the adsorption of the sarin molecule, a nerve agent, on three model
solid surfaces: aliphatic (graphane), aromatic (graphene), and ionic
(CaO). Calculations are carried out using accurate electronic structure
methods based on configuration interaction (CI) as well as complementary
density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent (TD) DFT calculations.
The objective is to describe surface interactions accurately in order
to identify factors that affect adsorption of sarin. Potential energy
curves are calculated and compared between surface types. Computed
CI binding energies to graphane, graphene, and calcium oxide surfaces
are 2.2, 4.5, and 13.2 kcal/mol, respectively. The corresponding DFT
binding energies are 6.4, 4.8, and 18.8 kcal/mol, respectively. Excited
states of free sarin as well as sarin bound to the surfaces are examined
using TDDFT and CI. Low-lying excited states of the adsorption complexes
involving excitations from the surface to sarin are calculated.