Stable Layered Sulfur Nanosheets Prepared by One-Step Liquid-Phase Exfoliation of Natural Sublimed Sulfur with Bovine Serum Albumin for Photocatalysis
Lihua Shen, Jianhang Wei, Zhifang Liu, Zhuangwei Bai, Yuangang Li, Dongdong Zhang, Chengxiao Zhang
Abstract
Inspired by graphene nanosheets, one kind of two-dimensional (2D) layered nanomaterials, sulfur nanosheets (S-NSs), were prepared by direct sonication exfoliation of the sublimed sulfur suspended in an aqueous solution containing bovine serum albumin (BSA). The prepared S-NSs showed a wide range of absorption properties from ultraviolet to the visible region, distinct multiwavelength photoluminescence (PL), and a significant electrochemiluminescence (ECL) phenomenon during potential cycled scanning or potential pulse step. Moreover, the S-NSs were found to have superb stability over 2 months in air and the strong ability to be a visible-light-active element photocatalyst. The prepared S-NSs will potentially be applied in the field of photocatalysis, sensors, optoelectronics, and transistors.