‘Pink phosphorus’ caged in carbon nanotubes
Highly reactive white phosphorus seen linking up to make new 1D form on way to red allotrope of the element
A new form of phosphorus made up of a chain of highly reactive white phosphorus molecules isolated inside single-walled carbon nanotubes has been discovered by UK scientists. Dubbed ‘pink phosphorus’, the one-dimensional polymeric structure offers a rare chance to study one of the most reactive and mysterious elements in the periodic table. The team was also given the chance to observe the first steps of the transformation from white phosphorus to the amorphous red allotrope of the element.