Advances and Applications of 2D Materials in Technology

This review looks at the synthesis, characteristics, and uses of 2D materials, emphasizing their disruptive potential in technology and providing insights into future research and development prospects.

Introduction to 2D Materials

The phrase “2D materials” refers to bulk materials with a layered structure and van der Waals (vdW) force interaction between layers (Wei et al., 2019). These materials feature atomically thin structures, which make it possible for researchers to engineer and adapt their characteristics, such as bandgap, surface and edge reactivity, and electronic and optoelectronic capabilities, into distinct physical properties (Nayir et al., 2023). 2D materials have unique layered properties that are devoid of surface connections, and their atomically flat surfaces make them appealing for nanoelectronic applications (Lee et al., 2019). The discovery and historical development of 2D materials has been significantly accelerated by the creation of databases containing a large number of 2D materials with calculated fundamental properties, which are then intelligently mined for materials with desired properties for specific applications. Compositing 2D materials with other materials can improve their electrochemical properties and reduce flaws (Xiao et al., 2021).

The computational 2D materials database provides a comprehensive and easily accessible overview of the continuously expanding family of 2D materials, serving as an ideal platform for computational modeling and creation of new 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures (Haastrup et al., 2018). Two-dimensional (2D) materials are ideal for next-generation electronics due to their unique physical, optical, and electric properties, such as atomically thin bodies, high transmittance, ultralight weight, and tunable band structures (Ricciardulli & Blom, 2020). The development of novel 2D materials with superior electrical and optoelectronic capabilities has sparked widespread scientific interest (Qiao et al., 2022). Furthermore, the fabrication of “true” 2D materials has recently received a lot of attention in the search for new functional materials with unparalleled properties (Xu et al., 2014).

2D materials are commonly employed in optical and photonic applications such as mode locks, optical switches, polarizers, and optical modulators (Liu, 2023). The discovery of 2D intrinsic magnetic materials with ultrathin structures and smooth surfaces has enabled research into fundamental magnetism physics and the development of spintronic devices (Hao et al., 2022). Two-dimensional (2D) layered materials have arisen as a new platform for conducting innovative electronic, optical, or excitonic physics and developing unparalleled nanoelectronic and energy applications (Chen et al., 2018).

Synthesis and Characterization

Salt-templating, molten Lewis acid etching, chalcogen vapor etching, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are some of the processes used to synthesize 2D materials (Kim et al., 2021; Geng and Yang, 2018; Dong et al., 2021). Beyond graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides, these approaches allow for the controlled creation of 2D materials such as transition metal chalcogenide. Photoexfoliation and epitaxial growth on SiC are also used to synthesize 2D materials (Kumar et al., 2022; Li et al., 2017).

Pressure bulge testing for mechanical properties (Cao & An, 2023), thermal characterization techniques including optothermal Raman and micro-bridge methods (Liu et al., 2021), and electrical characterization using field-effect transistors (Mitta et al., 2020) are all used to characterize the physical and chemical properties of 2D materials. The structural characteristics of 2D materials are characterized using optical inspection techniques such as optical microscopy (Lee et al., 2021). Additionally, epitaxial growth methods and controllability are investigated for the scalability of 2D layered transition-metal dichalcogenides (Li et al., 2017).

2D materials are synthesized using a variety of methods, including salt-templating, etching, and CVD, and their physical and chemical properties are characterized using techniques such as pressure bulge testing, thermal characterization, electrical characterization, and optical inspection.

Applications and Future Prospects

Current applications for 2D materials include electronics, energy storage, and biomedicine. In electronics, 2D materials have showed potential in optoelectronics, innovative electronics, and as building blocks for integrated electronic and optoelectronic devices. Preischl et al. (2020). Chen et al. (2018), Li et al. (2017), Anam & Gaston (2021), Yu & Yang (2020), Schmid (2024), Tian et al. (2018), Sun & Wu (2018), Xie et al. (2021), Rafieerad et al. (2021), Mojtabavi et al. (2021), Miao et al. (2023), and Liu et al. (2022). 2D materials have been used in electrochemical energy storage devices, such as lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors, due to their excellent electrochemical performance and high specific capacitance (Chen et al., 2018; Li et al., 2017; Anam & Gaston, 2021; Yu & Yang, 2020; Sun & Wu, 2018; Mojtabavi et al., 2021; Miao et al., 2023; Zhao, 2024; Katiyar, 2023; Batool et al., 2023; Kharwar et al., 2023; Qu Furthermore, 2D materials have found applications in biomedicine, including in nanomedicine and biomedicine, where they have been explored for potential applications in drug delivery, biosensing, and tissue engineering (Yu & Yang, 2020; Schmid, 2024; Tian et al., 2018; Sun & Wu, 2018; Xie et al., 2021; Rafieerad et al., 2021; Mojtabavi et al., 2021; Miao et al., 2023; Liu et al., 2022; Zhao, 2024; Katiyar, 2023; Batool

Future research paths and prospective technical improvements in the field of 2D materials are centered on a variety of topics. These include the creation of 2D materials for flexible electronics, which have the potential to give novel solutions to issues in a variety of electronic domains (Katiyar, 2023). Furthermore, advancements in 2D nanopatterning technologies are critical for producing high-quality material structures with ultrahigh integration density for future electrical and optoelectronic applications (Liu et al., 2022). Furthermore, the role of 2D materials in the creation of next-generation electronic devices with high performance, low power consumption, and high integration is being investigated, including non-volatile memory, Fe-FET, and neural network calculating devices (Zhang & Peng, 2023). The study of interfacial energy storage mechanisms is predicted to result in the development of energy storage devices with high energy density and power density (Hu et al., 2020). Furthermore, the potential of 2D materials in photonics and the energy storage business is being examined, with a particular emphasis on recent theoretical and practical advances (Iqbal et al., 2022). In biomedicine, 2D materials for nanoultrasonic biomedicine applications, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and low-intensity sonodynamic treatment (SDT), are being developed (Tang et al., 2016).

To summarize, 2D materials have already found numerous uses in electronics, energy storage, and healthcare, and ongoing research is aimed at expanding their potential in these sectors. Future applications for 2D materials include flexible electronics, high-performance electronic devices, interfacial energy storage mechanisms, photonics, and nanoultrasonic biomedicine.

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