Gate-tunable strong-weak localization transition in few-layer black phosphorus

Atomically-thin black phosphorus (BP) field-effect transistors show strong-weak localization transition, which is tunable through gate voltages. Hopping transports through charge impurity-induced localized states are observed at low carrier density regime. Variable-range hopping model is applied to simulate scattering behaviors of charge carriers. In the high carrier concentration regime, a negative magnetoresistance indicates weak localization effects. The extracted phase coherence length is power-law temperature-dependent and demonstrates inelastic electron–electron interactions and the 2D transport features in few-layer BP field-effect devices. The competition between localization and phase coherence lengths is investigated and analyzed based on observed gate-tunable strong-weak localization transition in few-layer BP.