AI‐Driven Discovery and Molecular Engineering Design for Enhancing Interface Stability of Black Phosphorus

C Chao Peng B Bing Wang L Lie Wu (Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Recognition and Biosensing Research Center for Analytical Science, College of Chemistry Nankai University Tianjin China) H Haoqu Jin (Materials Artificial Intelligence Center, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1068 Xueyuan Avenue Shenzhen 518055 P.R. China) Y Yutang Li W Wenxia Gao (Materials Artificial Intelligence Center, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1068 Xueyuan Avenue Shenzhen 518055 P.R. China) J Jie Zhou G Guolai Jiang (Materials Artificial Intelligence Center, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1068 Xueyuan Avenue Shenzhen 518055 P.R. China) C Chen Wang J Jiahong Wang (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China) X Xingchen He (Department of Environmental Science and Engineering School of Energy and Power Engineering Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an P. R. China) D Denis Kramer (Helmut‐Schmidt‐University University of the Armed Forces Holstenhofweg 85 22043 Hamburg Germany) P Paul K. Chu X Xue‐Feng Yu (Materials Artificial Intelligence Center, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1068 Xueyuan Avenue Shenzhen 518055 P.R. China)

Abstract

Abstract Molecular engineering offers significant potential for developing advanced interfacial materials, yet the complexity of organic molecules poses challenges in discovering optimal structures. This study leveraged large language model (LLM) and machine learning (ML) to accelerate molecular discovery and guide molecular engineering for enhancing the stability of black phosphorus (BP), a promising 2D semiconductor but rapidly degrades when exposed to oxygen and moisture. By utilizing GPT‐4o, molecular groups such as ─SiR 3 , ─PR 2 , ─SH, and ═NH that interact effectively with BP were identified and a high‐throughput workflow employing graph neural networks (GNNs) models was developed to successfully predict and screen 662 promising candidates from over 117 million molecules. These candidates were validated by density functional theory (DFT) simulations and experiments, with synthesis protocols guided by GPT‐4o, achieving great interfacial stabilization of BP for up to 24 days under ambient conditions. Furthermore, a new synergistic molecular engineering strategy was proposed by incorporating functional head, linker, and tail groups of molecules to even enable the use of hydrophilic molecules to stabilize BP surface, overcoming traditional design limitations. This work highlights the AI technologies not only in optimizing BP interfacial stability but also in broader aspects of molecular engineering for various materials.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 38
Published September 15, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (14)

C

Chao Peng

B

Bing Wang

L

Lie Wu

Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Recognition and Biosensing Research Center for Analytical Science, College of Chemistry Nankai University Tianjin China

H

Haoqu Jin

Materials Artificial Intelligence Center, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1068 Xueyuan Avenue Shenzhen 518055 P.R. China

Y

Yutang Li

W

Wenxia Gao

Materials Artificial Intelligence Center, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1068 Xueyuan Avenue Shenzhen 518055 P.R. China

J

Jie Zhou

G

Guolai Jiang

Materials Artificial Intelligence Center, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1068 Xueyuan Avenue Shenzhen 518055 P.R. China

C

Chen Wang

J

Jiahong Wang

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China

X

Xingchen He

Department of Environmental Science and Engineering School of Energy and Power Engineering Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an P. R. China

D

Denis Kramer

Helmut‐Schmidt‐University University of the Armed Forces Holstenhofweg 85 22043 Hamburg Germany

P

Paul K. Chu

X

Xue‐Feng Yu

Materials Artificial Intelligence Center, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences 1068 Xueyuan Avenue Shenzhen 518055 P.R. China