Recent progress on black phosphorus quantum dots for full-spectrum solar-to-chemical energy conversion

Abstract Semiconductor-based photocatalysis is one of the renewable and sustainable technologies for direct solar-to-chemical energy conversion to tackle the energy crisis and environmental pollution. Since being rediscovered in 2014, black phosphorus (BP), a two-dimensional (2D) layered material, has aroused extensive interests in the scientific community. In particular, 0D BP quantum dots (BPQDs) derived from 2D BP nanosheets have emerged as a promising candidate for full-spectrum solar energy conversion due to their favorable structural, electronic and optical characteristics. Herein, the most recent advances in the preparation of BPQDs and their unique advantages as well as applications in full-spectrum solar-to-chemical energy conversion like water splitting for hydrogen evolution, CO2 photoreduction and organic pollutant removal are highlighted. Further, the challenges and perspectives of BPQDs-based nanostructures on the possible future research directions in solar-driven heterogeneous photocatalysis are discussed, aiming to timely update one of the most active forefronts for the photo(electro)-catalytic community and beyond.