Electronic and magnetic properties of black phosphorus

Abstract

Black phosphorus has emerged as the next member in the graphene inspired two-dimensional materials family. Its electronic and magnetic properties are studied herein using electron and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques (ESR and NMR) and microwave conductivity measurement. The latter is a unique technique to study conductivity on air sensitive samples. The ESR study indicates the absence of free charge carriers and no sign of paramagnetic defects are found. $^{31}$P NMR shows the presence of a characteristic Pake doublet structure due to the interaction between $I = 1/2$ nuclei. Microwave conductivity shows, in accordance with the ESR results, that black phosphorus behaves as a semiconductor and we identify extrinsic and intrinsic charge carrier contributions to the conductivity and extracted the sizes of the gaps. ESR measurement also yields that bP might find applications as a microwave absorbent.