Self-assembled rhomboidal ammonia monolayer confined in two vertically stacked graphene oxide/graphene nanosheets

Abstract

Confined water molecules have attracted widespread research interest due to their versatile phase behaviors. Ammonia (NH₃, isoelectronic with water) molecules are also expected to realize the delicate self-assembled hydrogen-bonded network like water in confinement. Here, the structures and phase behavior of NH₃ monolayers confined in two structurally symmetrical graphene oxide (GO) or graphene (G) nanosheets are investigated using first-principles calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. A highly ordered new rhomboidal phase with all NH₃ molecules adopting a Y-shaped configuration, in which one N–H bond is parallel to the confining planes and two other N–H bonds point to the top/bottom GO/G layers, respectively, was discovered at low temperature, resulting from the symmetrical confinement and subtle interlayer/intermolecular interactions. Remarkably, this new phase is so stable that a quite large strain is needed to destroy it. At room temperature, these NH₃ monolayers behave like a liquid. These rhomboidal NH₃ monolayers confined in GO/G nanosheets not only offer diverse hydrogen-bonded networks but also possess potential piezoelectricity for future device applications.