Strain Engineering to Improve the Electronic and Photocatalytic Properties of the Inorganic Graphenylene Based on SiC

Computational simulations based on density functional theory (DFT) were carried out to show that biaxial strain (ε; −10% to +10%) engineering is a smart choice to modify the main properties of the two-dimensional inorganic graphenylene-like silicon carbide (IGP-SiC). It was demonstrated that the compressive deformation leads to a buckling effect on the IGP-SiC; however, the planar configuration remains along the tensile strain. The IGP-SiC under both compressive (ε = 0 to −10%) and tensile (ε = 0 to +10%) regimes is thermally stable at 700 K, as unveiled by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. By assessing the Raman spectrum, the E2g modes are red-shifted with tensile strain, which is similar to the graphene's tendency. Also, tensile deformation reduces the band gap energy from 3.22 eV (ε = 0%) to 2.48 eV (ε = +10%), leading the IGP-SiC to a visible-light spectrum. On the other hand, the compressive regime induces an opening of the band-gap energy to 4.05 eV (ε = −10%). Other remarkable results for strained IGP-SiC are the photocatalytic properties maintained at biaxial strain because the band edges meet the oxidation and reduction standard potentials, especially for strain regimes from +4% to +10%. Besides this, the IGP-SiC under strain application is a suitable alternative in photocatalytic degradation and water desalination due to its good performance in all pH environments.