Document Type : Review Article

Author

• Avadhesh Kumar Yadav

Dept. of Physics, F.A.A. Govt. PG College Mahmudabad, Sitapur-261203 (India) (An Associated College of University of Lucknow, Lucknow)

Abstract

The discovery of graphene marked the beginning of a new era in material science, leading to the exploration of a wide array of two-dimensional (2D) materials with unique properties. While graphene's remarkable electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties have been well-studied, its lack of an intrinsic bandgap has limited its applications, especially in digital electronics. This has spurred extensive research into alternative 2D materials, including transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), black phosphorus (BP), MXenes, and other layered compounds. These materials offer diverse properties such as tunable bandgaps, high carrier mobilities, and anisotropic behavior, making them promising candidates for next-generation applications in electronics, optoelectronics, energy storage, catalysis, and sensing. In this review, we aim to present a unified and critical overview of the evolution, classification, and functional potential of emerging 2D materials beyond graphene, highlighting how their intrinsic structural and electronic features govern device performance across multiple domains. It discusses the synthesis techniques, structural characteristics, and unique electronic properties that differentiate these materials from graphene. Moreover, the review explores their integration into devices like field-effect transistors, solar cells, supercapacitors, and catalysis systems. Special emphasis is placed on correlating material properties with practical device outcomes and identifying current challenges related to large-scale synthesis, stability, and compatibility with existing technologies. Finally, the review concludes with a forward-looking perspective that outlines the key strategies—such as heterostructure engineering, doping control, and AI-assisted material discovery—necessary for overcoming present limitations and accelerating the transition of 2D materials from laboratory research to real-world applications.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

• Emerging 2D materials
• Graphene alternatives
• Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs)
• MXenes and black phosphorus
• 2D material synthesis

Main Subjects

• Nanomaterials & Nanotechnology