Issue 4, 2020

Ultrathin boron nanosheets as an emerging two-dimensional photoluminescence material for bioimaging

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) metal-free sheets with atomic thickness have been highly considered as promising candidates for fluorescent probes, due to their intriguing characteristics. In this work, 2D ultrathin boron nanosheets (B NSs) with a surface defect nanolayer can be effectively prepared by modified liquid phase exfoliation. The as-prepared ultrathin B NSs show blue fluorescence characteristics even with a quantum yield efficiency of up to 10.6%. Such luminescent behavior originates from the quantum confinement effect and the existence of a surface defect layer. In light of the advantages of being environmentally friendly, having high photostability and good biocompatibility, for the first time we have shown that ultrathin B NSs can be used as an emerging fluorescent probe for application in cellular bioimaging. It is believed that this work will open new avenues for ultrathin B NSs in biomedical fields, and it will also inspire the development of other elemental 2D nanomaterials.

Graphical abstract: Ultrathin boron nanosheets as an emerging two-dimensional photoluminescence material for bioimaging

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
06 Nov 2019
Accepted
22 Jan 2020
First published
05 Feb 2020

Nanoscale Horiz., 2020,5, 705-713

Ultrathin boron nanosheets as an emerging two-dimensional photoluminescence material for bioimaging

D. Ma, J. Zhao, J. Xie, F. Zhang, R. Wang, L. Wu, W. Liang, D. Li, Y. Ge, J. Li, Y. Zhang and H. Zhang, Nanoscale Horiz., 2020, 5, 705 DOI: 10.1039/C9NH00698B

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