Deriving phosphorus atomic chain from few-layer black phosphorus

TL;DR

This paper presents a top-down electron beam sculpting method inside a TEM to create and observe phosphorus atomic chains derived from black phosphorus, supported by experimental and theoretical analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a novel top-down approach to synthesize and study phosphorus atomic chains, including their growth, dynamics, and energetics, using TEM and DFT calculations.

Findings

First experimental observation of phosphorus chain dynamics.

Successful synthesis of phosphorus atomic chains via electron beam sculpting.

Theoretical insights into the energetics of chain formation.

Abstract

Phosphorus atomic chains, the utmost-narrow nanostructures of black phosphorus (BP), are highly relevant to the in-depth development of BP into one-dimensional (1D) regime. In this contribution, we report a top-down route to prepare atomic chains of BP via electron beam sculpting inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The growth and dynamics (i.e. rupture and edge migration) of 1D phosphorus chains are experimentally captured for the first time. Furthermore, the dynamic behaviors and associated energetics of the as-formed phosphorus chains are further corroborated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The 1D counterpart of BP will serve as a novel platform and inspire further exploration of the versatile properties of BP.