Synthesis and Applications of Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials

Two-dimensional nanomaterials are crystalline sheets a few atoms thick with extensive lateral dimensions. Their extraordinary surface-to-volume ratio, tunable electronic structure, mechanical flexibility and varied chemical reactivity render them indispensable across electronics, energy conversion, catalysis and membrane technologies. Synthesis strategies encompass top-down routes such as exfoliation of layered solids and bottom-up approaches including wet-chemical growth, chemical vapour deposition and template-directed assembly. Recent advances have extended the repertoire beyond intrinsic van der Waals solids to oxides, chalcogenides and transition-metal compounds. Tailoring layer number, composition and defect landscape enables precise control of conductivity, optical response, catalytic activity and magnetic ordering. Integration of two-dimensional sheets into heterostructures, composites and flexible devices has catalysed breakthroughs in field-effect transistors, lithium-ion batteries, gas-separation membranes and spintronic components. Ongoing challenges relate to scalable production of uniform, high-quality films, efficient transfer protocols and stable operation under ambient conditions. Addressing these will pave the way to next-generation nanodevices and sustainable energy systems on a global scale.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Adaptive ionic layer epitaxy has been demonstrated as a general route to fabricate large-area, single-crystalline oxide nanosheets beyond van der Waals solids. By employing surfactant monolayers at the water–air interface, ultrathin ZnO sheets were prepared with precise thickness control and superior electronic mobility. Wet-chemical synthesis methods have been extended to non-layered materials, enabling bottom-up growth of a broad class of two-dimensional nanostructures. These routes employ solution-phase reactions to construct ultra-thin metal oxides and chalcogenides with controllable porosity and composition. Rapid thermal annealing of hydrous chloride precursors offers a straightforward, scalable method for mass production of two-dimensional oxides such as Cr₂O₃ and ZrO₂. This approach yields high yields of uniform nanosheets that exhibit enhanced electrochemical performance when evaluated as battery electrodes.

Synthesis and Applications of Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in synthesis and applications of two-dimensional nanomaterials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Two-dimensional nanomaterials: Crystalline sheets one or a few atoms thick with extended lateral dimensions, providing unique surface-dominated properties.

Van der Waals forces: Weak interlayer interactions that permit exfoliation of layered solids into atomically thin sheets.

Chemical vapour deposition (CVD): A bottom-up process in which gaseous precursors react on a substrate surface to form continuous thin films.

Adaptive ionic layer epitaxy: A surfactant-templated method for bottom-up growth of two-dimensional nanosheets from ionic precursors at liquid interfaces.

Exfoliation: A top-down technique that separates individual layers from bulk crystals through mechanical, chemical or thermal means.

References

1. Nanometre-thick single-crystalline nanosheets grown at the water–air interface. Nature Communications (2016).
2. Wet-chemical synthesis and applications of non-layer structured two-dimensional nanomaterials. Nature Communications (2015).
3. Mass production of two-dimensional oxides by rapid heating of hydrous chlorides. Nature Communications (2016).
4. Low‐temperature chemical vapor deposition growth of 2D materials. Electron (2024).
5. Electronic and magnetic structure of ultrathin Co9Se8 nanosheets and Co9Se8 bulk from density functional theory calculations. Journal of Applied Physics (2022).
6. The Possibility of Layered Non-Van Der Waals Boron Group Oxides: A First-Principles Perspective. Crystals (2023).
7. Two-dimensional Material Membranes for Gas Separation. CHIMIA International Journal for Chemistry (2020).