We proposed a boron–phosphorus
monolayer (BP-ML) and investigated
its gas sensing properties by density functional theory including
the van der Waals dispersion correction term. Electronic property
analysis reveals that BP-ML is a semiconductor with an indirect bandgap
of 0.54 eV. The adsorption energy calculations of nitrogen-containing
gases (NCGs) such as N2O, NO2, NH3, and NO show that these gases are physisorbed on the BP-ML surface.
Among the studied NCGs, the NO2 molecule exhibits a relatively
higher charge (0.43 e), which further confirms a
robust charge transfer and more reactivity with the BP-ML surface.
The work function of BP-ML increases by NO2 adsorption
from 4.75 to 5.13 eV, while it decreases with adsorption of other
NCG molecules. We have noticed that NO2 shows a considerably
short recovery time of 2.21 s at T = 300 K, strongly
referring to the multitime reusable nanosensor characteristic of the
BP-ML surface. Additionally, the transport properties of the BP surface
for the real-time sensing application are investigated by using the
nonequilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) approach. The current–voltage
(I–V) characteristics indicate
a significant (moderate) change along the armchair (zigzag) direction
when the NO2 molecule is adsorbed on the BP-ML surface.
These findings suggest that BP-ML surface-based sensors are highly
sensitive for the detection of NO2 molecules with short
recovery time.