Black Phosphorene with Removable Surface Protective Passivation via Covalent Functionalization and Chelation-based...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Chemistry

Background:

• 2D layered black phosphorus (BP), or phosphorene, shows promise in various applications.
• BP's high reactivity with oxygen and water limits its practical use.
• Effective passivation and deprotection strategies for BP are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a robust passivation strategy for 2D black phosphorus (BP).
• To enhance the stability and expand the application scope of BP.
• To enable facile deprotection and restoration of BP's reactivity.

Main Methods:

• Covalent functionalization of BP surface with tannic acid (TA).
• Chelation of Fe(III) ions with TA to form a protective shielding layer.
• Assessment of BP stability under ambient conditions.
• Deprotection of BP using weak acids and ultrasonication.

Main Results:

• The TA-Fe(III) treatment effectively passivates the BP surface, reducing reactivity.
• Passivated BP exhibited exceptional stability, remaining intact for over five months.
• Deprotection successfully restored BP's intrinsic reactivity.
• The protected BP can be utilized in broader applications.

Conclusions:

• A dual protection strategy based on covalent functionalization and chelation provides effective passivation for 2D BP.
• This method significantly enhances BP stability, overcoming a major limitation.
• The developed deprotection technique allows for the controlled release and utilization of reactive BP.