Opinion Article,  J Nanomater Mol Nanotechnol Vol: 13 Issue: 1

Emerging Trends in 2D Materials: Beyond Graphene

Yingwei Qiu^*

¹Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Zhejiang University, Jinhua, China

*Corresponding Author: Yingwei Qiu,
Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Zhejiang University, Jinhua, China
E-mail: yingwei_qiu23574@gmail.com

Received date: 12 February, 2024, Manuscript No. JNMN-24-137057;

Editor assigned date: 14 February, 2024, PreQC No. JNMN-24-137057 (PQ);

Reviewed date: 28 February, 2024, QC No. JNMN-24-137057;

Revised date: 06 March, 2024, Manuscript No. JNMN-24-137057 (R);

Published date: 13 March, 2024, DOI: 10.4172/2324-8777.1000393

Citation: Qiu Y (2024) Emerging Trends in 2D Materials: Beyond Graphene. J Nanomater Mol Nanotechnol 13:1.

Description

In the territory of materials science, the discovery of graphene marked a revolutionary milestone. Its exceptional properties, including remarkable strength, flexibility, and conductivity, opened up avenues for innovation across various industries. However, as research progresses, scientists are increasingly exploring beyond graphene, delving into a diverse array of two-dimensional (2D) materials with unique properties and promising applications. These emerging trends in 2D materials signify a new chapter in material science, offering unprecedented opportunities for technological advancement.

Among the frontrunners in the race to complement graphene are transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). These compounds, composed of transition metals like molybdenum or tungsten combined with chalcogens such as sulfur or selenium, exhibit intriguing electronic and optical properties. Unlike graphene, which lacks an inherent bandgap, TMDs possess a sizeable bandgap, making them suitable for electronic and optoelectronic applications such as transistors, photodetectors, and solar cells. Additionally, TMDs can be tuned to achieve desired properties, further expanding their utility in various fields.

Another notable contender in the realm of 2D materials is black phosphorus, also known as phosphorene. With a puckered honeycomb structure akin to graphene, black phosphorus offers distinct advantages, including a tunable bandgap and exceptional anisotropic properties. These attributes make it highly promising for applications in electronics, photonics, and energy storage. Moreover, black phosphorus exhibits strong light-matter interaction, clearing the path for advancements in photonic devices such as photodetectors, Light- Emitting Diodes (LEDs), and lasers. Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), often referred to as "white graphene," shares a similar hexagonal lattice structure with graphene but consists of alternating boron and nitrogen atoms. While hBN lacks the electronic conductivity of graphene, it compensates with exceptional thermal and chemical stability. These properties make hBN an ideal candidate for various applications, including protective coatings, lubricants, and as a substrate for 2D materials. Furthermore, hBN's ability to act as a tunnel barrier in electronic devices enhances its potential in nanoelectronics and quantum computing.

MXenes, a class of 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides, have garnered significant attention due to their exceptional conductivity, hydrophilicity, and mechanical flexibility. Produced by selectively etching layers from MAX phases, MXenes offer a diverse range of properties depending on the choice of transition metals and surface terminations. These unique characteristics make MXenes promising candidates for energy storage devices, electromagnetic interference shielding, and biomedical applications such as drug delivery and biosensing. While each 2D material boasts its own set of exceptional properties, researchers are increasingly exploring the synergistic effects achieved through heterostructures and composites. By layering different 2D materials or integrating them with conventional threedimensional materials, scientists can engineer hybrid systems with tailored functionalities. These hybrid structures exhibit enhanced performance characteristics and enable novel applications across diverse fields, including electronics, catalysis, and sensing.

Despite the promising potential of emerging 2D materials, several challenges remain to be addressed. Issues such as scalability, reproducibility, and device integration pose significant hurdles in transitioning from laboratory-scale research to real-world applications. Additionally, fundamental understanding of the synthesis, properties, and interactions of 2D materials is still evolving. Looking ahead, continued interdisciplinary research efforts are essential to overcome these challenges and unlock the full potential of 2D materials. Collaborations between scientists, engineers, and industry stakeholders will drive innovation and accelerate the development of practical solutions. As we venture beyond graphene, the landscape of materials science is poised for transformative advancements, with 2D materials at the forefront of this exciting journey into the future.