Xingxing Zhang

2D oxide nanomaterials offer many particular advantages for the development of novel catalysts to address the energy and chemistry transition. The knowledge gap between individual layered oxide types is addressed, summarizing recent developments in supported ultrathin oxide films, layered clays and double hydroxides, and layered perovskites and novel 2D‐zeolitebased materials.

Abstract

2D oxide nanomaterials constitute a broad range of materials, with a wide array of current and potential applications, particularly in the fields of energy storage and catalysis for sustainable energy production. Despite the many similarities in structure, composition, and synthetic methods and uses, the current literature on layered oxides is diverse and disconnected. A number of reviews can be found in the literature, but they are mostly focused on one of the particular subclasses of 2D oxides. This review attempts to bridge the knowledge gap between individual layered oxide types by summarizing recent developments in all important 2D oxide systems including supported ultrathin oxide films, layered clays and double hydroxides, layered perovskites, and novel 2D‐zeolite‐based materials. Particular attention is paid to the underlying similarities and differences between the various materials, and the subsequent challenges faced by each research community. The potential of layered oxides toward future applications is critically evaluated, especially in the areas of electrocatalysis and photocatalysis, biomass conversion, and fine chemical synthesis. Attention is also paid to corresponding novel 3D materials that can be obtained via sophisticated engineering of 2D oxides.

With the scaling trends in photovoltaics moving toward thinner active materials, two‐dimensional (2D) materials with their exciting optical and electronic properties are an obvious choice for integration with next‐generation solar cells. The role of 2Dmaterials in solar photovoltaics is presented so that they can be employed for formulating a future roadmap of various photovoltaic technologies.

Abstract

2D materials have attracted considerable attention due to their exciting optical and electronic properties, and demonstrate immense potential for next‐generation solar cells and other optoelectronic devices. With the scaling trends in photovoltaics moving toward thinner active materials, the atomically thin bodies and high flexibility of 2D materials make them the obvious choice for integration with future‐generation photovoltaic technology. Not only can graphene, with its high transparency and conductivity, be used as the electrodes in solar cells, but also its ambipolar electrical transport enables it to serve as both the anode and the cathode. 2D materials beyond graphene, such as transition‐metal dichalcogenides, are direct‐bandgap semiconductors at the monolayer level, and they can be used as the active layer in ultrathin flexible solar cells. However, since no 2D material has been featured in the roadmap of standard photovoltaic technologies, a proper synergy is still lacking between the recently growing 2D community and the conventional solar community. A comprehensive review on the current state‐of‐the‐art of 2D‐materials‐based solar photovoltaics is presented here so that the recent advances of 2D materials for solar cells can be employed for formulating the future roadmap of various photovoltaic technologies.

Crystalline functionalized endohedral C₆₀ metallofullerides

Crystalline functionalized endohedral C₆₀ metallofullerides, Published online: 06 August 2018; doi:10.1038/s41467-018-05496-8