Tailoring the electronic acceptor–donor heterointerface between black phosphorus and Co3O4 for boosting oxygen bifunctional electrocatalysis

Black phosphorus (BP) as an uprising two-dimensional material exhibits attractive potential in the field of electrocatalysis due to the inherent advantages of high carrier mobility and abundant lone pair electrons. However, the exposed active electrons compel BP to be deactivated by oxidative degradation. Herein, the electronic signature of acceptor-donor heterointerfacial interactions between BP and Co 3 O 4 is realized via wet ball milling. The preferential migration of active electrons from BP to Co 3 O 4 is achieved at the heterointerface since the Fermi level of BP is higher than that of Co 3 O 4 . Such relative energetic consideration promotes reasonable oxygen electrocatalytic active sites. Moreover, it significantly suppresses the oxidative degradation of BP. Consequently, the resulting Co 3 O 4 /BP heterojunction possesses superior oxygen bifunctional electrocatalytic activity than its parent catalysts. Most importantly, this work promotes an efficient route towards BP-based multifunctional catalysts. A beneficial electronic acceptor-donor heterointerface between BP and Co 3 O 4 is tailored skillfully by wet ball milling to boost bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysis.