Black Phosphorus Nanoparticle Labels for Immunoassays via Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Mediation

Black phosphorus is an emerging layered material. Its nanoparticles show an increased bandgap when compared to bulk materials and they are typically fabricated by ultrasonication of macroscopic black phosphorus crystals. Here we fabricate black phosphorus nanoparticles (BP NPs) by solution based electrochemical exfoliation with bipolar electrodes, which induces opposite potentials on the opposite ends of black phosphorus macroparticles thereby leading to its decomposition into nanoparticles. BP NPs have enhanced catalytic effect on the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) relative to black phosphorus macroparticles. We utilize black phosphorus nanoparticles as electrocatalytic tags in a competitive immunoassay for rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) detection. The detection signal is produced via nanoimpacts of the BP NPs followed by HER catalysis.