2D Materials Analysis

Research into the development and use of 2D materials has grown rapidly since Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov won the Nobel Prize in 2010 for their isolation of graphene. Understanding the structure and chemistry of these materials is a key part of this research, as these unique properties are essential to tailoring the materials to their target application.

2D materials consist of single or few atomic layers arranged in a two-dimensional structure. Examples include graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Their unique structure means that they exhibit properties different from their bulk material equivalents (e.g. graphene vs. graphite). This gives 2D materials exceptional electrical properties, exceptional mechanical strength and flexibility, intriguing optical properties, high chemical and environmental stability, versatile surface chemistry, and a large surface-to-volume ratio. For all these reasons, 2D materials are now being investigated for applications ranging from electronics and sensors to catalysis and protective coatings.