Two-Dimensional Material Properties and Applications

Two-dimensional materials comprise atomically thin sheets whose properties diverge sharply from their bulk analogues. The strong in-plane covalent bonding and weak out-of-plane interactions give rise to exceptional mechanical strength, high carrier mobility and tunable optical responses. By stacking disparate layers into heterostructures, it is possible to engineer bespoke electronic band structures, interlayer charge transfer and moiré potentials, unlocking phenomena such as unconventional superconductivity, topologically protected states and nanoscale magnetism. Synthesis techniques range from mechanical exfoliation and chemical vapour deposition to bottom-up chemical conversion, each influencing crystal quality, lateral size and defect density. These materials underpin advances in flexible electronics, high-performance sensors, energy storage devices, spintronic memory and catalysis, promising sustainable solutions across information technology, clean energy and healthcare sectors.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Researchers have achieved the wet-chemical exfoliation of a single-atom-thick gold layer by selectively etching Ti₃C₂ from a Ti₃AuC₂ precursor. Termed “goldene,” these monolayers exhibit lattice contraction, intrinsic stability confirmed by atomistic simulations and modulated surface chemistry via surfactant control. The fabrication route is scalable and free from hydrofluoric acid, heralding applications in plasmonics and nanoelectronics where the elemental composition and thickness can be precisely tailored. Recent studies of a two-dimensional stripy antiferromagnet have demonstrated magnetoelectric coupling down to the monolayer limit. By measuring tunnelling resistance under varied temperature, magnetic and electric fields, multi-stable states were stabilised and manipulated electrically. This capability enabled multi-state data storage and points to low-power spintronic devices that transcend binary architectures by exploiting coupled spin–charge phenomena in atomically thin magnets.

Two-Dimensional Material Properties and Applications publication trend

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

Technical terms

Van der Waals forces: Weak intermolecular interactions enabling exfoliation of layered crystals into atomically thin sheets.

Exfoliation: Mechanical or chemical separation of bulk layered materials into monolayers or few-layer sheets.

Heterostructure: Stacked assembly of different two-dimensional layers that interact to form new electronic or optical properties.

Magnetoelectric effect: Coupling between magnetic and electric order parameters allowing mutual control of spin and charge degrees of freedom.

Ferroelectricity: Spontaneous electric polarisation that can be reversed by an external electric field.

Antiferroelectricity: Ordered electric dipoles aligned in alternating directions, resulting in no net polarisation.

Monolayer: A single, atomically thin layer of a material, often exhibiting distinct quantum properties.

References

1. Non‐van der Waals 2D Materials for Electrochemical Energy Storage. Advanced Functional Materials (2023).
2. Multi-state data storage in a two-dimensional stripy antiferromagnet implemented by magnetoelectric effect. Nature Communications (2023).
3. A Review of the Synthesis, Properties, and Applications of 2D Materials. Particle & Particle Systems Characterization (2022).
4. Niobium oxide dihalides NbOX 2 : a new family of two-dimensional van der Waals layered materials with intrinsic ferroelectricity and antiferroelectricity. Nanoscale Horizons (2019).
5. Synthesis of goldene comprising single-atom layer gold. Nature Synthesis (2024).
6. Two-Dimensional Covalent Crystals by Chemical Conversion of Thin van der Waals Materials. Nano Letters (2019).