Recent advances in ambient-stable black phosphorus materials for artificial catalytic nitrogen cycle in environment and energy

Abstract

Nitrogen cycle is crucial for the Earth's ecosystem and human-nature coexistence. However, excessive fertilizer use and industrial contamination disrupt this balance. Semiconductor-based artificial nitrogen cycle strategies are being actively researched to address this issue. Black phosphorus (BP) exhibits remarkable performance and significant potential in this area due to its unique physical and chemical properties. Nevertheless, its practical application is hindered by ambient instability. This review covers the synthesis methods of BP materials, analyzes their instability factors under environmental conditions, discusses stability improvement strategies, and provides an overview of the applications of ambient-stable BP materials in nitrogen cycle, including N₂ fixation, NO₃^- reduction, NO_x removal and nitrides sensing. The review concludes by summarizing the challenges and prospects of BP materials in the nitrogen cycle, offering valuable guidance to researchers.

Keywords: Black phosphorus; Catalysis; Environment and energy; Nitrogen cycle; Stability.