Synthesis of Black Phosphorus Quantum Dots with High Quantum Yield by Pulsed Laser Ablation for Cell Bioimaging

Black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs), with an average diameter of about 6 nm and a height of about 1.1 nm, are successfully synthesized by means of a pulsed laser ablation (PLA) method in isopropyl ether (IPE) solvent. The photoluminescence PL quantum yield of the as-prepared sample is as high as 20.7 %, which is 3 times that of BPQDs prepared by means of probe ultrasonic exfoliation (approximately 7.2 %). The stable and blue–violet PL emission of the BPQDs is observed. It can be elucidated that electrons transit from the LUMO energy level to the HOMO energy level, as well as energy levels below the HOMO (H1 and H2). In addition, BPQDs are also utilized in bioimaging in HeLa cells, showing an intense and stable PL signal and excellent biocompatibility. Hence, this work indicates that the obtained BPQDs with high quantum yield and stable PL emission have great potential for biomedical applications, including biolabeling, bioimaging, and drug delivery.