Functional Protection of Exfoliated Black Phosphorus by Noncovalent Modification with Anthraquinone.

Gusmão, Rui; Sofer, Zdeněk; Pumera, Martin · ACS Nano · 2018

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Few and monolayer black phosphorus (phosphorene) is currently an intensively researched material. Shear exfoliated black phosphorus (BP<sub>SE</sub>) nanosheets were functionalized with the redox active antraquinone (AQ) that can provide additional charge storage capacity. The noncovalent interaction of BP with AQ occurs due to van der Waals interactions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results show that AQ coverage of BP<sub>SE</sub> nanosheets led to a stabilization against BP<sub>SE</sub> degradation. Electrochemistry of the BP<sub>SE</sub>-AQ shows that AQ is stably anchored onto BP<sub>SE</sub> and exhibits redox peaks stable for more than 100 cycles. The surface coverage by AQ on BP<sub>SE</sub> is estimated to be 1.25 nmol AQ/mg BP and electron-transfer rate constant ( k<sub>ET</sub>) of 33 s<sup>-1</sup>. Furthermore, the proposed modification greatly increases the gravimetric capacitance of BP<sub>SE</sub>-AQ with respect to the starting BP<sub>bulk</sub>. Such coating of BP not only protects BP from degradation but also brings electroactive functionality to this two-dimensionally layered material.