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The layer-dependent optoelectronic properties of monolayer, bilayer and trilayer black phosphorus (BP) are studied by using the first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). The valence band splits and the density of states (DOS) in the conduction band obviously shift to the Fermi surface with the increased layer number. The atomic p orbital of BP plays an decisive role in determining the electronic and optical properties, which are drastically different from those of graphene and transition metal dichalogenides (TMDs). The increase of the layer number leads to the metal characteristics. The extinction coefficient and photoconductivity show strong optical responses to the ultraviolet (UV) light, which further increase with the number of layers. BP layers can reflect UV rays effectively because of their metallic properties in the UV energy range. Our study shows that the interlayer interaction can intensely change the electronic and optical properties of BP.

Here, a novel material consisting of black phosphorus (BP) and nickel-dimethylglyoxime nanorods was successfully prepared via a facile in situ calcination strategy, which possesses efficient catalytic activity for hydrogen production from water splitting. The reason for this phenomenon was explained by a series of characterization technologies such as SEM, TEM, XRD, UV–Vis, XPS and photoelectrochemical. We demonstrated that the fast e⁻ transport channels were provided by the formed hollow structure of C@Ni-D nanorods, the highly exposed active sites on C@Ni-BP nanorods benefiting from the direct in situ growth of BP, the resulted synergetic effects of C@Ni-D-2 nanorods and BP achieved a better performance of photocatalytic hydrogen production from water splitting. The optimal hydrogen generation of C@Ni-BP-2 nanorods could reach up to 600$\mu$mol within 180min and the rate of hydrogen production did not decrease significantly after four repeated reaction cycles. This work may offer new direction in situ growth of novel catalysts for achieving highly efficient hydrogen production.

Single- or few-layer black phosphorus (FLBP) has attracted great attentions in scientific community with its excellent properties, including biodegradability, unique puckered lattice configuration, attractive electrical properties and direct and tunable band gap. In recent years, FLBP has been widely studied in bio-photonic fields such as photothermal and photodynamic therapy, drug delivery, bioimaging and biosensor, showing attractive clinical potential. Because of the marked advantages of FLBP nanomaterials in bio-photonic fields, this review article reviews the latest advances of biomaterials based on FLBP in biomedical applications, ranging from biocompatibility, medical diagnosis to treatment.

Black phosphorus (BP) or phosphorene, a new superstar among two-dimensional (2D) materials, has sparked huge scientific interest since its discovery in 2014. BP offers unique characteristics including high drug loading efficiency, excellent photodynamic and photothermal properties and good biocompatibility. These characteristics expand versatility of BP in nanomedicine. Although the outlook of BP seems promising, its practical biomedical applications are still at the very initial stage especially in comparison to other thoroughly investigated inorganic nanomaterials. This paper reviews BP structure and properties as well as its preparation approaches with the emphasis on techniques to improve BP stability and biocompatibility for their further usage in physiological environment. Meanwhile, recent progress made in various biomedical research fields from bioimaging to biosensing is discussed. Last, but not least, current challenges and prospects for BP in biomedicine are briefly examined, which will be useful to guide future developments of BP.

Novel black phosphorus quantum dots/attapulgite (BPQDs/ATP) nanocomposites were prepared via a facile hydrothermal-deposition method. TEM showed that BPQDs dispersed evenly on the surface of ATP with uniform particle size about 5nm. UV-Vis revealed that the BPQDs/ATP composite showed wider visible light absorption range as compared with pure ATP. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). Results showed that BPQDs/ATP reached 90% degradation rate under solar light irradiation for 180min. The coherent heterostructure formed by BPQDs and ATP was responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic performance, due to the sensitization effect of BPQDs and the facilitation of charges separation.

First-principles calculation is carried out to study adsorption of potassium (K) on phosphorene, a single layer of black phosphorus (BP). Interesting adsorption distance dependent electronic properties were found for the K adsorption on phosphorene surface, which is different from that for the K adsorption on a few-layer black phosphorus. While the bandgap of few-layer BP decreases monotonically as K approaches its surface and a Dirac point emerges, that of phosphorene decreases first and then increases, remaining open at any separation between K and phosphorene. This abnormal behavior is a result of weaker Stark effect and charge localization in phosphorene.