First-principles study of the adsorption behavior of Octyl-β-D-xyloside surfactant on pristine Al12N12 and B12N12 nanocages

The octyl-β-D-xyloside is a biosurfactant with well-known roles in membrane protein systems. Using an efficient delivery system for these biosurfactants is of primary importance. This paper investigates the potential application of Al12N12 and B12N12 nanocages as an electronic sensor for octyl-β-D-xyloside surfactant detection in the gas phase using density functional theory calculations. Our results show that the electronic properties of Al12N12 and B12N12 nanocages were significantly affected by the adsorption of the octyl-β-D-xyloside molecule. The adsorption energies and enthalpies predicted a thermodynamically favorable chemisorption process. The AIM analysis reveals the formation of normal and bifurcated hydrogen bonds for Al12N12 and B12N12 nanocages whilst, for O3, O2, and O4 positions we identify the inter/intra-molecular hydrogen bonds. The NBO results revealed a charge transfer from the adsorbed octyl-β-D-xyloside molecule to the nanocluster. Our finding revealed although both Al12N12 and B12N12 nanocages have the ability to detect and adsorb the octyl-β-D-xyloside but, the adsorption over the Al12N12 is not favorable due to the high recovery time. Whilst, the adsorption of the octyl-β-D-xyloside through O3 with less steric factor on the B12N12 nanocage and the recovery time of  S, is the best adsorption site.