"When 2D black phosphorus meets transition metals nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization and application"

When 2D black phosphorus meets transition metal nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization and application. Recently, a new member of the growing family of 2D materials, named phosphorene, being the P-counterpart of graphene, was successfully isolated by exfoliation of the black allotrope of the element.1 Single and few-layer black phosphorus (2D bP) have gained lot of interest being semiconductors with high carrier mobility and an in-plane structural anisotropy. Successfull applications in batteries, transistors, sensors and photonics have shown 2D bP as a promising novel nanomaterial, though the problem of ambient stability still hampers its wide use.1 Currently, we are exploring its functionalization with late transition metal nanoparticles, as Ni and Pd. Preliminary tests have shown the nanohybrid Ni/2D bP has an improved stability in ambient conditions in comparison to pristine 2D bP. This feature prompted us to use Ni/2D bP as recyclable catalyst in the hydrogenation reaction and good catalytic activity together with high selectivity were achieved.2 Acknowledgements This work was supported by an ERC Advanced Grant PHOSFUN "Phosphorene functionalization: a new platform for advanced multifunctional materials" (Grant Agreement No. 670173) to M. P. References 1.Gusmao, R.; Sofer, Z.; Pumera, M.; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 8052. 2.Caporali, M.; Serrano-Ruiz, M.; Telesio, F.; Heun, S.; Nicotra, G.; Spinella, C.; Peruzzini, M. Chem. Commun. 2017, 53, 10946.