2023-09-24 15:00:00
British researchers have developed one-atom-thick ribbons composed of phosphorus combined with arsenic, which might significantly improve the efficiency of devices such as batteries, supercapacitors and solar cells.
This discovery opens new perspectives for energy, medicine and quantum computing.
Phosphorus and arsenic nanoribbons
In 2019, the research team of theUCL discovered the nanorubans of phosphorus, a material promising to revolutionize various devices, ranging from batteries to biomedical sensors. On the other hand, phosphorus-only materials do not conduct electricity very well, limiting their use for certain applications.
In the new study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Societyresearchers created nanoribbons composed of phosphorus and small amounts of arsenicwhich were found to be able to conduct electricity at temperatures above -140°C, while retaining the very useful properties of phosphor-only ribbons.
Potential applications
Dr. Adam Clancy, lead author of the study, explains that adding arsenic to phosphorus nanoribbons opens up new possibilities, including improving the energy storage of batteries and supercapacitorsas well as the improvement of near-infrared detectors used in medicine.
Additionally, arsenic and phosphorus ribbons were found to be magnetic, making them potentially interesting for quantum computers.
The researchers believe that the same technique might be used to create alloys combining phosphorus with other elements such as selenium or germanium.
Impact on batteries and solar cells
To be used as an anode material in lithium-ion or sodium-ion batteries, phosphor nanoribbons would currently need to be mixed with a conductive material like carbon. By adding arsenic, carbon filling is no longer necessary and can be eliminated, increasing the amount of energy the battery can store and the speed at which it can be charged and discharged.
In solar cells, arsenic and phosphorus nanoribbons can also improve the flow of charge through devices, thereby increasing cell efficiency.
UCL researchers have created one-atom-thick ribbons of arsenic-alloyed phosphorus that might significantly improve the efficiency of devices such as batteries, supercapacitors and solar cells. Credit: Clancy et al / JACS
One of the main characteristics of nanoribbons is that they also exhibit extremely high “hole mobility”. Holes are electrons’ opposing partners in electrical transport, so improving their mobility (a measure of how fast they move through the material) allows electric current to flow more efficiently.
The nanoribbons might be produced at scale in a liquid that might then be used to apply them in volume and at low cost to different applications.
Synthetic
Phosphorus and arsenic nanoribbons developed by UCL researchers offer considerable potential to improve the efficiency of energy, medical and computing devices. This discovery might lead to major advances in the field of batteries, supercapacitorssolar cells and quantum computers.
For a better understanding
1. What are phosphorus and arsenic nanoribbons?
Phosphorus and arsenic nanoribbons are one-atom-thick structures composed of phosphorus alloyed with arsenic. They exhibit interesting electrical and magnetic properties for various applications.
2. What are the potential applications of these nanoribbons?
Potential applications include improving the energy storage of batteries and supercapacitors, improving near-infrared detectors used in medicine, and use in quantum computers.
By adding arsenic to the phosphorus nanoribbons, carbon filling is no longer necessary, increasing the amount of energy the battery can store and the speed at which it can be charged and discharged.
Arsenic and phosphorus nanoribbons can improve the flow of charge through devices, thereby increasing the efficiency of solar cells.
5. What are the next steps for these nanoribbons?
Researchers will continue to explore the properties and potential applications of phosphorus and arsenic nanoribbons, as well as the possibility of creating alloys with other elements such as selenium or germanium.
*Phosphorus nanoribbons were discovered at UCL by an interdisciplinary team led by Professor Chris Howard (UCL Physics & Astronomy). Since the isolation of two-dimensional phosphorene sheets in 2014, more than 100 theoretical studies have predicted exciting new properties that might emerge by producing narrow ribbons of this material.
Article : “Production of Magnetic Arsenic–Phosphorus Alloy Nanoribbons with Small Band Gaps and High Hole Conductivities” – DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c03230
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