Showing papers on "Phosphorus published in 2016"

Epitaxial Growth of Single Layer Blue Phosphorus: A New Phase of Two-Dimensional Phosphorus

Abstract: Blue phosphorus, a previously unknown phase of phosphorus, has been recently predicted by theoretical calculations and shares its layered structure and high stability with black phosphorus, a rapidly rising two-dimensional material. Here, we report a molecular beam epitaxial growth of single layer blue phosphorus on Au(111) by using black phosphorus as precursor, through the combination of in situ low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory calculation. The structure of the as-grown single layer blue phosphorus on Au(111) is explained with a (4 × 4) blue phosphorus unit cell coinciding with a (5 × 5) Au(111) unit cell, and this is verified by the theoretical calculations. The electronic bandgap of single layer blue phosphorus on Au(111) is determined to be 1.10 eV by scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurement. The realization of epitaxial growth of large-scale and high quality atomic-layered blue phosphorus can enable the rapid development of novel electronic and optoelect...

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and eutrophication in streams

Abstract: Flowing waters receive substantial nutrient inputs, including both nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), in many parts of the world. Eutrophication science for rivers and streams has unfortunately lagge...

Long-term accumulation and transport of anthropogenic phosphorus in three river basins

Abstract: Global food production depends on phosphorus. Phosphorus is broadly applied as fertilizer, but excess phosphorus contributes to eutrophication of surface water bodies and coastal ecosystems1. Here we present an analysis of phosphorus fluxes in three large river basins, including published data on fertilizer, harvested crops, sewage, food waste and river fluxes2, 3, 4. Our analyses reveal that the magnitude of phosphorus accumulation has varied greatly over the past 30–70 years in mixed agricultural–urban landscapes of the Thames Basin, UK, the Yangtze Basin, China, and the rural Maumee Basin, USA. Fluxes of phosphorus in fertilizer, harvested crops, food waste and sewage dominate over the river fluxes. Since the late 1990s, net exports from the Thames and Maumee Basins have exceeded inputs, suggesting net mobilization of the phosphorus pool accumulated in earlier decades. In contrast, the Yangtze Basin has consistently accumulated phosphorus since 1980. Infrastructure modifications such as sewage treatment and dams may explain more recent declines in total phosphorus fluxes from the Thames and Yangtze Rivers3, 4. We conclude that human-dominated river basins may undergo a prolonged but finite accumulation phase when phosphorus inputs exceed agricultural demand, and this accumulated phosphorus may continue to mobilize long after inputs decline.

Growth of 2D black phosphorus film from chemical vapor deposition.

Abstract: Phosphorene, a novel 2D material isolated from bulk black phosphorus (BP), is an intrinsic p-type material with a variable bandgap for a variety of applications. However, these applications are limited by the inability to isolate large films of phosphorene. Here we present an in situ chemical vapor deposition type approach that demonstrates progress towards growth of large area 2D BP with average areas >3 μm2 and thicknesses representing samples around four layers and thicker samples with average areas >100 μm2. Transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy have confirmed successful growth of 2D BP from red phosphorus.

Black Phosphorus (BP) Nanodots for Potential Biomedical Applications

Abstract: Recently, the appeal of 2D black phosphorus (BP) has been rising due to its unique optical and electronic properties with a tunable band gap (≈0.3-1.5 eV). While numerous research efforts have recently been devoted to nano- and optoelectronic applications of BP, no attention has been paid to promising medical applications. In this article, the preparation of BP-nanodots of a few nm to <20 nm with an average diameter of ≈10 nm and height of ≈8.7 nm is reported by a modified ultrasonication-assisted solution method. Stable formation of nontoxic phosphates and phosphonates from BP crystals with exposure in water or air is observed. As for the BP-nanodot crystals' stability (ionization and persistence of fluorescent intensity) in aqueous solution, after 10 d, ≈80% at 1.5 mg mL(-1) are degraded (i.e., ionized) in phosphate buffered saline. They showed no or little cytotoxic cell-viability effects in vitro involving blue- and green-fluorescence cell imaging. Thus, BP-nanodots can be considered a promising agent for drug delivery or cellular tracking systems.

Phosphate adsorption on metal oxides and metal hydroxides: A comparative review

Abstract: Phosphorus removal from wastewater is important for eutrophication control of water bodies. Metal oxides and metal hydroxides have always been developed and investigated for phosphorus removal, bec...

Wet-Chemical Processing of Phosphorus Composite Nanosheets for High-Rate and High-Capacity Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract: Phosphorus-based materials are promising for high-performance lithium-ion battery (LIB) applications due to their high theoretical specific capacity. Currently, the existing physical methods render great difficulty toward rational engineering on the nanostructural phosphorus or its composites, thus limiting its high-rate LIB applications. For the first time, a sublimation-induced synthesis of phosphorus-based composite nanosheets by a chemistry-based solvothermal reaction is reported. Its formation mechanism involves solid–vapor–solid transformation driven by continuous vaporization–condensation process, as well as subsequent bottom-up assembly growth. The proof-of-concept LIBs composed of the phosphorus-based nanosheets achieve a high capacity of 630 mAh g−1 at an ultrahigh current density of 20 A g−1, which is attributed to efficient lithium-ion diffusion and electron transfer. Such simple sublimation-induced transformation opens up new prospects for rational engineering of phosphorus-based materials for enhancing electrochemical performance.

An Elemental Phosphorus Photocatalyst with a Record High Hydrogen Evolution Efficiency

Abstract: Semiconductive property of elementary substance is an interesting and attractive phenomenon. We obtain a breakthrough that fibrous phase red phosphorus, a recent discovered modification of red phosphorus by Ruck et al., can work as a semiconductor photocatalyst for visible-light-driven hydrogen (H2) evolution. Small sized fibrous phosphorus is obtained by 1) loading it on photoinactive SiO2 fibers or by 2) smashing it ultrasonically. They display the steady hydrogen evolution rates of 633 μmol h−1 g−1 and 684 μmol h−1 g−1, respectively. These values are much higher than previous amorphous P (0.6 μmol h−1 g−1) and Hittorf P (1.6 μmol h−1 g−1). Moreover, they are the highest records in the family of elemental photocatalysts to date. This discovery is helpful for further understanding the semiconductive property of elementary substance. It is also favorable for the development of elemental photocatalysts.

Phosphorus depletion in forest soils shapes bacterial communities towards phosphorus recycling systems

Abstract: Phosphorus (P) is an important macronutrient for all biota on earth but similarly a finite resource. Microorganisms play on both sides of the fence as they effectively mineralize organic and solubilize precipitated forms of soil phosphorus but conversely also take up and immobilize P. Therefore, we analysed the role of microbes in two beech forest soils with high and low P content by direct sequencing of metagenomic deoxyribonucleic acid. For inorganic P solubilization, a significantly higher microbial potential was detected in the P-rich soil. This trait especially referred to Candidatus Solibacter usiatus, likewise one of the dominating species in the data sets. A higher microbial potential for efficient phosphate uptake systems (pstSCAB) was detected in the P-depleted soil. Genes involved in P starvation response regulation (phoB, phoR) were prevalent in both soils. This underlines the importance of effective phosphate (Pho) regulon control for microorganisms to use alternative P sources during phosphate limitation. Predicted genes were primarily harboured by Rhizobiales, Actinomycetales and Acidobacteriales.

Enhancing the Mobilization of Native Phosphorus in the Mung Bean Rhizosphere Using ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized by Soil Fungi.

Abstract: Phosphorus (P) is a limiting factor to plant growth and productivity in almost half of the world’s arable soil, and its uptake in plants is often constrained because of its low solubility in the soil. To avoid repeated and large quantity application of rock phosphate as a P fertilizer and enhance the availability of native P acquisition by the plant root surface, in this study a biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticle was used. Zn acts as a cofactor for P-solubilizing enzymes such as phosphatase and phytase, and nano ZnO increased their activity between 84 and 108%. The level of resultant P uptake in mung bean increased by 10.8%. In addition, biosynthesized ZnO also improves plant phenology such as stem height, root volume, and biochemical indicators such as leaf protein and chlorophyll contents. In the rhizosphere, increased chlorophyll content and root volume attract microbial populations that maintain soil biological health. ICP-MS results showed ZnO nanoparticles were distributed in all plant parts, including...

The Greenland Ice Sheet as a hot spot of phosphorus weathering and export in the Arctic

Abstract: The contribution of ice sheets to the global biogeochemical cycle of phosphorus is largely unknown, due to the lack of field data. Here we present the first comprehensive study of phosphorus export from two Greenland Ice Sheet glaciers. Our results indicate that the ice sheet is a hot spot of phosphorus export in the Arctic. Soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentrations, up to 0.35 µM, are similar to those observed in Arctic rivers. Yields of SRP are among the highest in the literature, with denudation rates of 17–27 kg P km−2 yr−1. Particulate phases, as with nonglaciated catchments, dominate phosphorus export (>97% of total phosphorus flux). The labile particulate fraction differs between the two glaciers studied, with significantly higher yields found at the larger glacier (57.3 versus 8.3 kg P km−2 yr−1). Total phosphorus yields are an order of magnitude higher than riverine values reported in the literature. We estimate that the ice sheet contributes ~15% of total bioavailable phosphorus input to the Arctic oceans (~11 Gg yr−1) and dominates total phosphorus input (408 Gg yr−1), which is more than 3 times that estimated from Arctic rivers (126 Gg yr−1). We predict that these fluxes will rise with increasing ice sheet freshwater discharge in the future.

Phosphorus amendment decreased cadmium (Cd) uptake and ameliorates chlorophyll contents, gas exchange attributes, antioxidants, and mineral nutrients in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Cd stress

Abstract: A 28-day pot (sand culture) experiment was carried to evaluate the effects of phosphorus (P) application in alleviating Cd phytotoxicity in wheat plants. Different levels of P (0, 10, and 20 kg ha−1) were applied without and with 100 µM Cd. The results showed that 100 µM Cd concentration decreased plant biomass, chlorophyll contents, gas exchange attributes, and mineral nutrients in wheat plants. Cadmium stress increased tissue Cd and H2O2 concentrations. The activities of superoxide dismutases (SOD), peroxidase (POD) enzymes, increased while the activities of catalase (CAT), ascorbic acid (AsA), α-tocopherol, and phenolics decreased under Cd stress. Phosphorus supply increased shoot biomass, leaf area, photosynthetic pigments, and mineral nutrients and decreased Cd and H2O2 concentrations in shoots. Phosphorus application improved antioxidant enzyme activities and gas exchange attributes which emerged as an important mechanism of Cd tolerance in wheat. We conclude that P application contributes to decrea...

Two-Dimensional Phosphorus Carbide: Competition between sp2 and sp3 Bonding

Abstract: We propose previously unknown allotropes of phosphorus carbide (PC) in the stable shape of an atomically thin layer. Different stable geometries, which result from the competition between sp2 bonding found in graphitic C and sp3 bonding found in black P, may be mapped onto 2D tiling patterns that simplify categorizing of the structures. Depending on the category, we identify 2D-PC structures that can be metallic, semimetallic with an anisotropic Dirac cone, or direct-gap semiconductors with their gap tunable by in-layer strain.

Two-Dimensional Phosphorus Porous Polymorphs with Tunable Band Gaps

Abstract: Exploring stable two-dimensional (2D) crystalline structures of phosphorus with tunable properties is of considerable importance partly due to the novel anisotropic behavior in phosphorene and potential applications in high-performance devices. Here, 21 new 2D phosphorus allotropes with porous structure are reported based on topological modeling method and first-principles calculations. We establish that stable 2D phosphorus crystals can be obtained by topologically assembling selected phosphorus monomer, dimer, trimer, tetramer, and hexamer. Nine of reported structures are predicted to be more stable than white phosphorus. Their dynamic and thermal stabilities are confirmed by the calculated vibration spectra and Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamic simulation at temperatures up to 1500 K. These phosphorus porous polymorphs have isotropic mechanic properties that are significantly softer than phosphorene. The electronic band structures calculated with the HSE06 method indicate that new structures are semic...