Layered black phosphorus as a reducing agent - decoration with group 10 elements

Black phosphorus is prone to surface oxidation under ambient conditions. This attribute is often seen as a negative property of this interesting material. However, its proneness to oxidation - thus the reductive properties - can also be employed in modification of its surface and in preparation of composite materials. Here we describe the process of decoration of BP particles with nickel, palladium and platinum in form of a phosphide or in metallic form, respectively. The deposits have forms of films or nanoparticles and the reported method represents a general way of modifying the surface of black phosphorus with metals or their respective compounds for desired applications.