Supramolecular networks stabilise and functionalise black phosphorus

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Black phosphorus (BP) and its few-layer form, phosphorene, exhibit limited stability due to surface oxidation under ambient conditions.
• This instability restricts their application in optoelectronic devices.
• Developing effective passivation strategies is crucial for realizing the potential of BP-based materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the formation of supramolecular networks on black phosphorus surfaces.
• To assess the efficacy of these networks in passivating BP and preventing oxidation.
• To explore the potential for creating supramolecular heterostructures on BP.

Main Methods:

• Solution deposition of supramolecular components onto black phosphorus.
• Atomic force microscopy (AFM) for imaging surface morphology and network formation.
• Characterization of supramolecular network alignment and domain size.

Main Results:

• Formation of monolayer-thick supramolecular networks, specifically trimesic acid and melamine cyanurate (CA.M), on BP surfaces.
• The CA.M network aligns with phosphorus atom rows, forming large domains that effectively passivate the BP surface.
• Passivation efficacy demonstrated for over a month under ambient conditions.
• Successful sequential deposition of another molecule to form supramolecular heterostructures.

Conclusions:

• Supramolecular networks stabilized by hydrogen bonding can effectively passivate black phosphorus surfaces.
• This approach significantly enhances the stability of BP, enabling its use in optoelectronics.
• The developed method provides a versatile platform for constructing complex supramolecular architectures on 2D materials.