Facile synthesis of black phosphorene via a low melting media assisted ball milling

Few-layer phosphorene (FLP) has attracted strong research interest due to its extraordinary physical and chemical properties. However, an efficient and rapid fabrication of high-quality FLP is still unavailable. Herein, a simple and efficient low melting media-assisted ball milling (LMMBM) approach is developed to prepare FLP in large quantities. The phase change of the LMM at higher temperatures leads to FLP with larger lateral dimensions compared to the ones obtained via dry solid state ball milling. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies indicated that liquid facilitates the slipping/curling of black phosphorus (BP) layers under the shearing force generated during ball milling. When used as an anode in Lithium-ion batteries, the FLP-C composite exhibits high initial Coulombic efficiency, stable cycling and rate capacity. This LMMBM approach can be adopted for mass production of other two-dimensional materials from their bulk counterparts.

Automated summary

Few-layer phosphorene (FLP) has exceptional physical and chemical properties, and a simple and efficient low melting media-assisted ball milling (LMMBM) approach is developed to prepare FLP in large quantities. The use of liquid medium promotes the slipping/curling of black phosphorus (BP) layers during ball milling. The LMMBM approach also has potential for mass production of other two-dimensional materials.