Synthesis of black phosphorus from biomass

Black phosphorus is a layered crystal with unique material properties that finds promising applications in batteries, transistors, sensors, and catalysis. This Villum Experiment aims to explore the synthesis of black phosphorus directly from phosphorus rich biomass char. The hypothesis is that the carbothermic reduction reaction between the carbon and phosphates in biomass char can produce gaseous P4, and black phosphorus can be synthesized by controlling the nucleation, condensation, and growth of the P4 on a substrate. Experiments will be performed in a high-temperature reactor to evaluate the effect of raw materials and process conditions on the synthesis of black phosphorus. We expect the project will facilitate the development of a continuous, scalable, and environmentally friendly process for producing black phosphorus.