Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Black Phosphorus

Black phosphorus (bP) 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.