Metal-free few-layer phosphorous nanomaterial: method for its preparation and use thereof
AssigneeInstitut National De La Recherche Scientifique
InventorsQingzhe Zhang, Dongling Ma, Mohamed Chaker
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Abstract
A method for preparing a metal-free few-layer phosphorous nanomaterial. The method comprises an ice-assisted exfoliation process (or solvent ice-assisted exfoliation process). The method allows for the preparation of a few-layer phosphorous nanomaterial with improved yield and reduced duration and exfoliation power. The few-layer phosphorous nanomaterial is used in the preparation of a photocatalyst. The photocatalyst exhibits a long-term stability, high photocatalytic H2 evolution efficiency from water, and good stability under visible light irradiation.
Claims15
A method for preparing a few-layer phosphorous nanomaterial, comprising:
- (a) providing a bulk layer-structured phosphorous material;
- (b) grinding the bulk phosphorous material;
- (c) dispersing the grinded material into a first organic solvent to obtain a first dispersion in a sealed vial;
- (d) freezing the first dispersion for a period of time using liquid nitrogen, wherein organic solvent molecules are intercalated between layers of the material and interlayers are expanded;
- (e) melting the frozen dispersion via ultrasonication for a period of time to obtain a second dispersion, wherein forces are generated between intercalated organic ice crystals and the layers;
- and
- (f) submitting the second dispersion to a separation step, optionally involving centrifugation for a period of time, to obtain the nanomaterial,
- wherein the first organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), diethyl ether, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, cyclohexane, toluene, dimethylformamide, and combinations thereof,
- and wherein the method is conducted in a glovebox or with nitrogen bubbling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.