In-situ formation of Ni2P on black phosphorus surface for efficient NIR photocatalytic singlet oxygen generation.

[Display omitted] • Ni 2 P/BP is formed by doping Ni onto the surface of black phosphorus (BP) by a one-pot method successfully. • The as prepared Ni 2 P/BP shows a better ambient stability and more efficient interfacial charge separation than that of BP under NIR light irradiation. • The Ni 2 P/BP can activate oxygen to generate singlet oxygen through Russell Mechanism for water remediation and disinfection under NIR irradiation. Black phosphorus (BP) shows great potential applications in photoelectric conversion and photocatalysis, but its applications are limited by its disadvantages such as poor ambient stability and rapid carrier recombination under photoirradiation. In this work, it was surprisingly found that the in-situ generation of Ni 2 P onto the surface of BP leaded to a significant improvement in both ambient stability and photocatalytic singlet oxygen (1O 2) generation under NIR irradiation. Because of the transfer of electrons from Ni to BP via Ni-P bonds, the Ni 2 P/BP showed better charge separation efficiency and ambient stability in NIR photoelectric conversion. Moreover, the Ni 2 P/BP was able to generate 1O 2 for NIR photocatalysis through Russell Mechanism. Meanwhile, norfloxacin and E. coli could also be removed by Ni 2 P/BP under NIR irradiation, which further shows the ability to generate 1O 2 for practical utilization. This work provides a novel insight into the passivation of BP by hetero-atoms doping and a new strategy for green NIR photocatalytic water remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]