RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Regulating the reactivity of black phosphorus via protective chemistry JF Science Advances JO Sci Adv FD American Association for the Advancement of Science SP eabb4359 DO 10.1126/sciadv.abb4359 VO 6 IS 46 A1 Liu, Xiao A1 Xiao, Liangping A1 Weng, Jian A1 Xu, Qingchi A1 Li, Wanli A1 Zhao, Chunhui A1 Xu, Jun A1 Zhao, Yanli YR 2020 UL http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/46/eabb4359.abstract AB Rationally regulating the reactivity of molecules or functional groups is common in organic chemistry, both in laboratory and industry synthesis. This concept can be applied to inorganic nanomaterials, particularly two-dimensional black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets. The high reactivity of few-layer (even monolayer) BP is expected to be “shut down” when not required and to be resumed upon application. Here, we demonstrate a protective chemistry–based methodology for regulating BP reactivity. The protective step initiates from binding Al3+ with lone pair electrons from P to decrease the electron density on the BP surface, and ends with an oxygen/water-resistant layer through the self-assembly of hydrophobic 1,2-benzenedithiol (BDT) on BP/Al3+. This protective step yields a stabilized BP with low reactivity. Deprotection of the obtained BP/Al3+/BDT is achieved by chelator treatment, which removes Al3+ and BDT from the BP surface. The deprotective process recovers the electron density of BP and thus restores the reactivity of BP.