Few-layer black phosphorous (BP) has emerged as a promising candidate for next-generation nanophotonic and nanoelectronic devices. However, rapid ambient degradation of mechanically exfoliated BP poses challenges in its practical deployment in scalable devices. To date, the strategies employed to protect BP have relied upon preventing its exposure to atmospheric conditions. Here, an approach that allows this sensitive material to remain stable without requiring its isolation from the ambient environment is reported. The method draws inspiration from the unique ability of biological systems to avoid photo-oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species. Since BP undergoes similar photo-oxidative degradation, imidazolium-based ionic liquids are employed as quenchers of these damaging species on the BP surface. This chemical sequestration strategy allows BP to remain stable for over 13 weeks, while retaining its key electronic characteristics. This study opens opportunities to practically implement BP and other environmentally sensitive 2D materials for electronic applications.

The dissociation of apoferritin into subunits at pH 2 followed by its re-formation at pH 8.5 in the presence of hexacyanoferrate(III) gave rise to a solution containing hexacyanoferrate(III) trapped within the apoferritin and hexacyanoferrate(III) outside it. The addition of Fe(II) to the dialyzed solution resulted in the appearance of the characteristic Prussian blue color. The UV-vis spectrum of this solution showed a broad band centered at 710 nm, and the IR spectrum contained a broad-medium band at 2083 cm(-1). Both features are consistent with the charge-transfer band and the C[bond]N stretching mode in the Fe(II)[bond]CN[bond]Fe(III) fragment of PB. TEM images of the obtained Prussian blue solution showed discrete spherical electron dense iron particles with an average size of about 5 nm. This represents a new route for preparing metallic nanoparticles that offers control over the size and protection against aggregation. Moreover, the fact that the particles are obtained by reaction of hexacyanoferrate(III) and iron(II) building blocks opens up the possibility of obtaining not only homo- but also heterobimetallic nanoparticles.

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES), Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy (EELS), Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), and SQUID magnetic studies were performed in a batch of horse spleen ferritins from which iron had been gradually removed, yielding samples containing 2200, 1200, 500, and 200 iron atoms. Taken together, findings obtained demonstrate that the ferritin iron core consists of a polyphasic structure (ferrihydrite, magnetite, hematite) and that the proportion of phases is modified by iron removal. Thus, the relative amount of magnetite in ferritin containing 2200 to 200 iron atoms rose steadily from approximately 20% to approximately 70% whereas the percentage of ferrihydrite fell from approximately 60% to approximately 20%. These results indicate a ferrihydrite-magnetite core-shell structure. It was also found that the magnetite in the ferritin iron core is not a source of free toxic ferrous iron, as previously believed. Therefore, the presence of magnetite in the ferritin cores of patients with Alzheimer's disease is not a cause of their increased brain iron(II) concentration.