Black Phosphorus: Properties, Synthesis, and Applications in Energy Conversion and Storage

Following graphene, MXenes, and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), black phosphorus (BP) has recently been introduced as a new member of the 2D materials family. Recently, the intensified research in BP has been motivated not only by its appealing properties, such as tunable band gap and high carrier mobility, but also by the strong light-matter interactions and lithium storage capability. The band gap of BP changes from 0.3eV to 2.0eV, and can be tuned efficiently for photon absorption. BP can undergo electrochemical reactions with both lithium and sodium as an anode material with a high theoretical specific capacity. The anisotropic structure of BP also makes it a fast ion conductor in a specific direction. The unique structure and properties of BP make it a promising material for various applications including energy conversion and storage. This review provides a summary of recent research progress for BP in terms of its properties, synthesis, and applications in energy conversion and storage, with a focus on enabling the important roles that BP could play in rechargeable batteries.