Noncovalent Functionalization of Few-Layered Antimonene with Fullerene Clusters and Photoinduced Charge Separation in the Composite

Few-layered antimonene (FLSb) nanosheets were noncovalently functionalized with fullerene C-60 clusters by quick addition of a poor solvent (i.e., acetonitrile) into a mixed dispersion of FLSb and C-60 in a good solvent (i.e., toluene). In a flash-photolysis time-resolved microwave conductivity (FP-TRMC) measurement, the FLSb-C-60 composite, (FLSb+C-60)(m), showed a rapid rise in transient conductivity, whereas no conductivity signal was observed in the single components, FLSb and C-60. This demonstrated the occurrence of photoinduced charge separation between FLSb and C-60 in (FLSb+C-60)(m). Furthermore, a photoelectrochemical device with an electrophoretically deposited (FLSb+C-60)(m) film exhibited an enhanced efficiency of photocurrent generation, compared to those of the single-components, FLSb and C-60, due to the photoinduced charge separation between FLSb and C-60. This work provides a promising approach for fabrication of antimonene-organic molecule composites and paves the way for their application in optoelectronics.