Two-dimensional black phosphorus modified by aluminum element: A feasible way to enhance lithium storage performance

• The maximum lithium storage capacity of Al-2D-BP is 46% higher than that of 2D-BP. • Al-2D-BP has higher capacity retention than 2D-BP after 100 cycles. • The mechanism of lithium storage in Al-2D-BP is mainly diffusion-controlled. Two-dimensional black phosphorus (2D-BP) has attracted much attention in electrochemical lithium storage due to its special wrinkled structure and great theoretical capacity, and it is a two-dimensional energy storage material with great application potential. However, the low electronic conductivity of phosphorus-based materials also greatly limits their application and development. In order to improve the lithium storage performance of 2D-BP, it was modified by the high electron mobility of aluminum element using hydrothermal synthesis method in this study, and the material morphology and chemical composition were investigated through a series of physical characterization, while the long cycling and rate performance tests also showed that the electrode has superior lithium storage capacity and cycling stability, thus proving the feasibility of this scheme. It lays a theoretical and practical foundation for the future research of 2D-BP in lithium storage and promotes the practical application of 2D-BP in this field in the future.