The Electronic Response of Pristine, Si, and Al-doped B12N12 Nanocage to an Ecstasy Drug: A DFT Study

In the present research, the interaction of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) drug with the pristine, Si, and Al-doped B12N12 nanocage, is investigated systematically using the density functional theory (DFT) method at B97D/6-31G(d) computational level. The obtained results show that MDMA drugs can be detected after interaction with pristine B12N12. Improvement in sensing properties of the desired nanocage is achieved after doping B atom of nanocage with Al or Si atoms. The uptake of the MDMA drugs prompts a substantial change in the energy gap (Eg) of the desired frameworks. The Si-B12N11 nanocage is a more proper sensor than the pristine and Al-doped B12N12 nanocage, considering significant changes in electronic properties and appropriate recovery time. The NBO analyses reveal that charge transfer occurs from the MDMA drug to the studied nanocages.