Synthesis, Surface Engineering, and Emerging Applications of Black Phosphorus Nanosheets
- 1School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada
- 2Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada
Abstract
Black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNS) are emerging two-dimensional (2D) materials with exceptional optical and electronic properties, making them promising candidates for a wide range of nanotechnology applications. Their distinctive structural, electronic, and optical characteristics, particularly their thickness-dependent direct band gap, which varies from approximately 0.3 eV in bulk black phosphorus to 2.0 eV in the monolayer, have been extensively investigated using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. This review focuses on the anisotropic optical responses of BPNS, including their polarization-dependent linear absorption and reflection, as well as nonlinear optical phenomena such as saturable absorption and the Kerr effect. In addition, the potential applications of BPNS in solar cells, sensors, and biomedical devices are discussed, with particular emphasis on their tunable band gap and enhanced sensitivity. Their reported biodegradability and generally favorable biocompatibility in preclinical studies further support their potential in nanomedicine, although these properties depend on formulation, dose, and surface modification. Despite these promising properties, challenges related to large-scale synthesis and environmental stability remain. Addressing these limitations through scalable synthesis approaches and improved stability will be essential for translating the unique capabilities of BPNS into practical applications.
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BibTeX
@article{panta2026synthesis,
title = {{Synthesis, Surface Engineering, and Emerging Applications of Black Phosphorus Nanosheets}},
author = {Rakshya Panta and Howyn Tang and Lina Elrofaie and Jin Zhang},
journal = {Nanomaterials},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nano16211389},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/16/21/1389},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Synthesis, Surface Engineering, and Emerging Applications of Black Phosphorus Nanosheets
AU - Rakshya Panta
AU - Howyn Tang
AU - Lina Elrofaie
AU - Jin Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/29
JO - Nanomaterials
DO - 10.3390/nano16211389
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/16/21/1389
AB - Black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNS) are emerging two-dimensional (2D) materials with exceptional optical and electronic properties, making them promising candidates for a wide range of nanotechnology applications. Their distinctive structural, electronic, and optical characteristics, particularly their thickness-dependent direct band gap, which varies from approximately 0.3 eV in bulk black phosphorus to 2.0 eV in the monolayer, have been extensively investigated using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. This review focuses on the anisotropic optical responses of BPNS, including their polarization-dependent linear absorption and reflection, as well as nonlinear optical phenomena such as saturable absorption and the Kerr effect. In addition, the potential applications of BPNS in solar cells, sensors, and biomedical devices are discussed, with particular emphasis on their tunable band gap and enhanced sensitivity. Their reported biodegradability and generally favorable biocompatibility in preclinical studies further support their potential in nanomedicine, although these properties depend on formulation, dose, and surface modification. Despite these promising properties, challenges related to large-scale synthesis and environmental stability remain. Addressing these limitations through scalable synthesis approaches and improved stability will be essential for translating the unique capabilities of BPNS into practical applications.
SN - 2079-4991
ER -