Recent Advances in the Study of Phosphorene and its Nanostructures

Phosphorene, a single layer of black phosphorus, has attracted considerable attention recently due to its intriguing structures and fascinating electronic properties. In particular, its remarkable properties, such as high charge carrier mobility, direct band-gap semiconducting characteristics, and strong anisotropies in electro-optical and thermo-mechanical properties, etc., are opening up brand-new opportunities for its applications in nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, sensors, energy conversion, and advanced engineering materials, etc. In this article, we present recent advances in the study of phosphorene and its derivatives (nanoribbons, nanotubes, fullerenes, and heterostructures) with special emphasis on structures, morphologies, properties (electronic, optical, magnetic, thermal, mechanical), and applications (transistors, phonon detectors, digital circuits, sensors, thermoelectric materials, Li-ion batteries). In addition, routes for modifying these properties by physical and chemical functionalization, defect engineering, strain engineering, and electric fields are discussed. Our intent is to present a state-of-the-art view in this fast-evolving field, with a balanced theoretical and experimental perspective.