English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Pnictogens have multiple allotropic forms resulting from their ns2 np3valence electronic configuration, making them the only elemental materials tocrystallize in layered van der Waals (vdW) and quasi-vdW structures throughoutthe group. Light group VA elements are found in the layered orthorhombic A17phase such as black phosphorus, and can transition to the layered rhombohedralA7 phase at high pressure. On the other hand, bulk heavier elements are onlystable in the A7 phase. Herein, we demonstrate that these two phases not onlyco-exist during the vdW growth of antimony on weakly interacting surfaces, butalso undertake a spontaneous transformation from the A17 phase to thethermodynamically stable A7 phase. This metastability of the A17 phase isrevealed by real-time studies unraveling its thickness-driven transition to theA7 phase and the concomitant evolution of its electronic properties. At acritical thickness of ~4 nm, A17 antimony undergoes a diffusionless shuffletransition from AB to AA stacked alpha-antimonene followed by a gradualrelaxation to the A7 bulk-like phase. Furthermore, the electronic structure ofthis intermediate phase is found to be determined by surface self-passivationand the associated competition between A7- and A17-like bonding in the bulk.These results highlight the critical role of the atomic structure andinterfacial interactions in shaping the stability and electroniccharacteristics of vdW layered materials, thus enabling a new degree of freedomto engineer their properties using scalable processes.

Pnictogens Allotropy and Phase Transformation during van der Waals Growth