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A microwave-assisted process is developed for the rapid and scalable manufacture of pure-phase metallic MoS₂ nanosheets, enabling practical electrochemical devices for energy applications.

Modifying or functionalizing transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) allows their properties to be altered and controlled. Now, non-defect-mediated covalent functionalization of single-layer semiconducting TMDs such as MoS₂, WS₂ and MoSe₂ has been demonstrated by reacting them with organohalides, utilizing the excess charge in the 1T metallic phase.

Efficient evolution of hydrogen via electrocatalysis at low overpotentials is promising for clean energy production. Monolayered nanosheets of chemically exfoliated WS₂ are shown to be efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution at very low overpotentials. The enhanced catalytic performance is associated with the high concentration of the strained metallic octahedral phase in the exfoliated nanosheets.

Ferromagnetic van der Waals contacts of indium and cobalt can provide robust and reproducible spin injection in graphene lateral spin valves without the need for an additional dielectric tunnel barrier.

Lead halide perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) promise applications in optoelectronics but are limited by sensitivity to wet environments. Here the authors develop a Pb-S bonding approach to synthesize PQDs@silica nanodots that are capable of emitting and lasing in aqueous environments for long periods.

Electrochemical actuators based on exfoliated and restacked metallic MoS₂ nanosheet electrodes can generate mechanical force in electrolyte solution on intercalation and deintercalation of ions.

Non-optimal electrical contacts can significantly limit the performance of MoS₂-based thin-film transistors. Transformation of semiconducting MoS₂ into its metallic phase is now shown as a viable strategy to decrease the metal–MoS₂ contact resistance.

Zirconium oxide—an industry-compatible high-dielectric-constant oxide—can form a clean interface with two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide, allowing field-effect transistors to be created that offer small threshold voltages, low subthreshold swings and high ON-state currents.

Interconnect architectures are vital frameworks that allow disparate components, such as cores and memory, to communicate. This Review provides an overview of the development of key interconnect components, such as metals, diffusion barriers and intermetal dielectrics, and how they can offer more efficient and sustainable performance.

A family of two-dimensional transition metal oxychalcogenides is synthesized from bulk transition metal dichalcogenides by tetrabutylammonium intercalation. The stoichiometry and properties of the two-dimensional transition metal oxychalcogenides can be tuned, enabling high stability and catalytic activity for oxygen evolution in acid.

The 1T metallic phase of MoS₂ shows high volumetric capacitance and electrochemical properties that are attractive for supercapacitor applications.

Chemical lithiation of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides can be accelerated by up to six orders of magnitude using low-power illumination and a variety of phase transition agents.

Lithium–sulfur batteries are based on complex chemical reactions involving solid–liquid–solid phase transitions. Now, a ternary diagram that describes the thermodynamic stability of the different phases formed during lithium–sulfur reactions is established.

The electrochemical oxidation and reduction of water and carbon dioxide are associated with the release or storage of energy. This Review reports the latest developments in the design and use of low-dimensional materials and their van der Waals heterostructures for electrocatalytic and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and CO₂ conversion.

Transition metal dichalcogenides are promising hydrogen evolution catalysts however they can require expensive processing steps to enhance their activity. Here, the authors report a one-step activation step in which room temperature hydrazine treatment results in much enhanced electrocatalytic performance.

Organometallic perovskite solar cells exhibit good efficiency but their photostability is still relatively poorly understood and controlled. Here the authors show that photo-degradation arises from the formation of light-activated meta-stable trap states, is reversible, and can be frozen at 0 °C.

Clean van der Waals contacts of high-work-function metals have been demonstrated on few- and single-layered MoS₂ and WSe₂, leading to p-type characteristics on single-layer MoS₂ and purely p-type characteristics on WSe₂.

Using a chemical vapour deposition method, it is possible to epitaxially grow wafer-scale single-crystal trilayers of hexagonal boron nitride—an important dielectric for 2D materials—on Ni (111) foils by boron dissolution.

Li–S chemistry can provide high-energy-density batteries. Here the authors use lithiated metallic phase 2D materials as a sulfur host for cathodes that leads to high-energy-density Li–S pouch cell batteries.

A large scale approach for multifunctional smart display systems in traditional textiles has yet to be demonstrated. Here, authors present a foldable, rollable 46-inch smart textile lighting/display system for smart homes and internet of things applications via the systematic design and integration of versatile fibre devices into textile form factors.

Reversible structural surface relaxation under laser exposure is observed for monolayers of 2D metal halide perovskites. These structural changes also induce reversible shifts in the photoluminescence peaks of these materials.

Black phosphorus is being considered for energy storage but its rate and cycling capabilities are limited by intrinsic (de-)alloying. Molecular-level surface redox sites on oxidized black phosphorus can now be coupled with graphene via strong interlayer bonding.

Thin films of amorphous boron nitride are mechanically and electrically robust, prevent diffusion of metal atoms into semiconductors and have ultralow dielectric constants that exceed current recommendations for high-performance electronics.

With diverse polymorphisms and phase transitions that can be triggered using many methods, layered transition metal dichalcogenides are attractive materials for realizing novel topological states, as well as for a range of other applications.

Increasing the edge concentration of metallic MoS₂ nanosheets will improve their electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution. The activity of MoS₂ can now be enhanced by facilitating electron injection from the electrode to the catalyst.

Thermal reduction of graphene oxide is an attractive route towards the preparation of graphene, but complete removal of residual oxygen is problematic. Now, molecular dynamics simulations elucidate the chemical changes involved in this process.

This Perspective explores key challenges in the development of electronics based on two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides, identifying defects, doping, p-type contacts and high-dielectric-constant dielectrics as critical issues.

Metallic transition metal dichalcogenides are promising catalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions but their performances are still lower than industrial Pt and Ir electrolysers. The metallic 2H phase of niobium disulfide now exhibits enhanced current densities versus a reversible hydrogen electrode.

Ultraclean van der Waals bonds between gold-capped indium and a monolayer of the two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenide molybdenum disulfide show desirably low contact resistance at the interface, enabling high-performance field-effect transistors.

A key challenge in fabricating devices out of 2D materials is in making good electrical contact. This Expert Recommendation discusses the physics of electrical contacts and provides tips on improving contact quality.

This Primer on chemical vapour deposition summarizes current and emerging experimental set-ups as well as common characterization approaches used to determine thin film formation and quality as applied to graphene and other novel 2D materials.

Chemically derived graphene oxide (GO) has recently moved on from simply being a graphene precursor to attracting interest for its own properties. This Review discusses how the presence of oxygenated groups and domains of sp²- and sp³-hybridized carbons makes GO tunable and promising for various physical and biological applications.

Two-dimensional materials have recently garnered much interest in the scientific and technology communities. This Review describes how ultrathin transition metal dichalcogenides combine tunable structure and electronic properties, achieved through altering their composition, with versatile chemistry. This makes them attractive in various fields, for example as lithium-ion battery electrodes and electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Owing to their layered structure, the properties of 2D perovskites can be controlled by tuning their thickness. This Review surveys how fine-tuning the thickness of 2D perovskites from the sub-micrometre to the molecularly thin regime helps to optimize their electrical and optical properties for use in different applications.

Field-effect transistors (FETs) with semiconducting channels made from 2D materials are known to have fewer problems with short-channel effects than devices comprising 3D semiconductors. In this Review, a mathematical framework to evaluate the performance of FETs is outlined with a focus on the properties of 2D materials, such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, phosphorene and silicene.

Quantum photonics investigates how a controlled number of photons can be used to achieve information processing beyond classical constraints. Here, the authors use optically active defects in hexagonal boron nitride as way to achieve control of photon emission using surface acoustic waves.