Gonzalo Abellán

Liquid exfoliation of solvent-stabilized few-layer black phosphorus for applications beyond electronics.

Few-layer black phosphorus (BP) is a new two-dimensional material which is of great interest for applications, mainly in electronics. However, its lack of environmental stability severely limits its synthesis and processing. Here we demonstrate that high-quality, few-layer BP nanosheets, with controllable size and observable photoluminescence, can be produced in large quantities by liquid phase exfoliation under ambient conditions in solvents such as N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone (CHP). Nanosheets are surprisingly stable in CHP, probably due to the solvation shell protecting the nanosheets from reacting with water or oxygen. Experiments, supported by simulations, show reactions to occur only at the nanosheet edge, with the rate and extent of the reaction dependent on the water/oxygen content. We demonstrate that liquid-exfoliated BP nanosheets are potentially useful in a range of applications from ultrafast saturable absorbers to gas sensors to fillers for composite reinforcement.

Few-Layer Antimonene by Liquid-Phase Exfoliation

Abstract We report on a fast and simple method to produce highly stable isopropanol/water (4:1) suspensions of few‐layer antimonene by liquid‐phase exfoliation of antimony crystals in a process that is assisted by sonication but does not require the addition of any surfactant. This straightforward method generates dispersions of few‐layer antimonene suitable for on‐surface isolation. Analysis by atomic force microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy confirmed the formation of high‐quality few‐layer antimonene nanosheets with large lateral dimensions. These nanolayers are extremely stable under ambient conditions. Their Raman signals are strongly thickness‐dependent, which was rationalized by means of density functional theory calculations.

Hexagonal nanosheets from the exfoliation of Ni2+-Fe3+ LDHs: a route towards layered multifunctional materials

Here we report the synthesis of a crystalline micrometric-sized hexagonal-shaped Ni2+-Fe3+ LDH by following a modified homogeneous precipitation method. The exfoliation of the material in formamide leads to stable suspensions of hexagonal nanometric sheets, which have been extensively characterized. Our data confirm that the intrinsic properties of the bulk material are retained by these segregated nanosheets, thus opening the door for their use in the development of layered multifunctional materials.

Alkoxide-intercalated CoFe-layered double hydroxides as precursors of colloidal nanosheet suspensions: structural, magnetic and electrochemical properties

Alkoxide-intercalated CoFe-layered double hydroxides (CoFe–LDHs) were synthesized via the non-aqueous methanolic route. According to powder X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy, they exhibit a nanosized plate-like morphology with a basal space of 9.21 A. The hydrolysis of the material in water leads to colloidal suspensions of nanosheets with lateral dimensions of about 20 nm and thicknesses of ca. 4 nm as demonstrated by atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy-loss spectroscopy confirm the high crystalline quality of the crystals and the proper Co/Fe stoichiometry. The magnetic properties of the CoFe–LDH have been investigated by means of DC and AC magnetic susceptibility measurements and isothermal magnetisation, showing a low-temperature magnetic ordering below ca. 7 K with a size-dependent spin-glass like behaviour, and displaying hysteresis cycles at 2 K with a coercive field of 402 G. Moreover, the sample has been tested as an electrode material for supercapacitors in a three-electrode system by means of cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge experiments, showing high capacitances and stability. Finally, we have explored the electrocatalytic behaviour towards water oxidation, demonstrating its efficient and persistent performance at basic pHs, highlighting their tremendous potential in energy storage devices.

Noncovalent Functionalization of Black Phosphorus

Black phosphorus (BP) was functionalized with organic moieties on the basis of liquid exfoliation. The treatment of BP with electron-withdrawing 7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane (TCNQ) led to electron transfer from BP to the organic dopant. On the other hand, the noncovalent interaction of BP with a perylene diimide was mainly due to van der Waals interactions but also led to considerable stabilization of the BP flakes against oxygen degradation.

Interplay between Chemical Composition and Cation Ordering in the Magnetism of Ni/Fe Layered Double Hydroxides

We report the synthesis of a family of ferrimagnetic NiFe layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with a variable Ni(2+)/Fe(3+) in-plane composition of [Ni(1-x)Fe(x)(OH)2](CO3)(x/2)·yH2O (x = 0.20, 0.25, and 0.33) by following a modified homogeneous precipitation. These layered magnets display high crystallinity, homogeneous hexagonal morphologies, and micrometric size that enable their quantitative exfoliation into single layers by sonomechanical treatment of the solids in polar solvents. This was confirmed by dynamic light scattering, UV-vis spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron miscroscopy, and atomic force microscopy methodologies to study the resulting steady suspensions. Our magnetic study reflects that the iron content in the LDH layers controls the overall magnetism of these lamellae. Hence, the gradual replacement of Ni(2+) with Fe(3+) centers introduces a larger amount of antiferromagnetically coupled Fe-OH-Fe pairs across the layers, provoking that the compound with the highest Fe/Ni ratio displays spontaneous magnetization at higher temperatures (T(irr) = 15.1 K) and the hardest coercive field (3.6 kG). Mössbauer spectroscopy confirms that the cation distribution in the layers is not random and reflects the occurrence of Fe clustering due to the higher affinity of Fe(3+) ions to accommodate other homometallic centers in their surroundings. In our opinion, this clarifies the origin of the glassy behavior, also reported for other magnetic LDHs, and points out spin frustration as the most likely cause.

Fundamental Insights into the Degradation and Stabilization of Thin Layer Black Phosphorus

Herein, we have developed a systematic study on the oxidation and passivation of mechanically exfoliated black phosphorus (BP). We analyzed the strong anisotropic behavior of BP by scanning Raman microscopy providing an accurate method for monitoring the oxidation of BP via statistical Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, different factors influencing the environmental instability of the BP, i.e., thickness, lateral dimensions or visible light illumination, have been investigated in detail. Finally, we discovered that the degradation of few-layer BP flakes of <10 nm can be suppressed for months by using ionic liquids, paving the way for the development of BP-based technologies.

Layered double hydroxide (LDH)–organic hybrids as precursors for low-temperature chemical synthesis of carbon nanoforms

A low-temperature route for the chemical synthesis of diverse carbon nanoforms, including nano-onions and multi-walled nanotubes, is described. The method involves thermal decomposition of a sebacate-intercalated NiFe LDH at 400 °C and benefits from the catalytic activity of FeNi3 nanoparticles generated in situ.

Room Temperature Magnetism in Layered Double Hydroxides due to Magnetic Nanoparticles

Some recent reports claiming room temperature spontaneous magnetization in layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been published; however, the reported materials cause serious concern as to whether this cooperative magnetic behavior comes from extrinsic sources, such as spinel iron oxide nanoparticles. The syntheses of crystalline Fe(3+)-based LDHs with and without impurities have been developed, highlighting the care that must be taken during the synthetic process in order to avoid misidentification of magnetic LDHs.

Alkoxide-intercalated NiFe-layered double hydroxides magnetic nanosheets as efficient water oxidation electrocatalysts

Alkoxide-intercalated NiFe-layered double hydroxides were synthesized via the nonaqueous methanolic route. These nanoplatelets exhibit high crystalline quality as demonstrated by atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Moreover, the presence of the alkoxide moieties has been unambiguously demonstrated by means of thermogravimetric analysis coupled to a mass spectrometer. These NiFe-LDHs can be exfoliated in water or organic solvents and processed into homogeneous ultra-thin films (<3 nm thick) with the assistance of O2-plasma. The study of their behaviour as water oxidation electrocatalysts has shown an outstanding performance at basic pHs (small overpotential of ca. 249 mV and Tafel slopes in the range of 52–55 mV per decade).