Dear Colleagues,

Mathematically, a 2D crystal is unstable in free space. This does not prevent 2D materials from existing, as first demonstrated by Novoselov and Geim in 2004 with graphene. In most applications, a 2D layer is held by a solid surface on which it sticks. Fortunately, the interaction with the substrate can be weak enough to preserve the intrinsic properties of the 2D overlayer. As theory and experiment have demonstrated, these properties are remarkably different from those of usual 3D materials.

The study of 2D materials has rapidly become topical in nanosciences as more and more structures have been discovered. Elemental 2D materials include graphene, graphdiyne, silicene, phosphorene, borophene, and others. In addition, numerous compounds have been produced in the form of molecular monolayer and their properties analyzed: hexagonal BN, SnS, transition metal dichalcogenides, MXenes, etc. The electronic structures of 2D materials range from metal to semiconductor while, interestingly, a few of them demonstrate magnetic order.

Different 2D materials can be stacked in sandwich heterostructures held by van der Waals forces. Layers with different electronic properties can be assembled thereby with almost endless combinations and potential applications. Lateral heterostructures can also be imagined where two half layers are stitched together by covalent bonds.

The world of 2D materials has only been partly explored, numerous discoveries are still to come. This Special Issue offers the opportunity for actors in this area to publish their recent results in full open access.

Prof. Dr. Philippe Lambin
Guest Editor

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• graphene
• TMDC
• layered structures
• nanocomposites
• nanoelectronics