Advances in Two-Dimensional Materials: From Synthesis to Applications

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Engineering for Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 November 2024 | Viewed by 2715

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Associate Professor, School of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Nanchang 330013, China
Interests: two-dimensional materials; van der Waals heterojunction photocatalysts; carbon-based optoelectronic materials and devices; energy storage and conversion devices

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have gained tremendous attention due to their unique properties and potential applications in various fields. The recent advances in synthesis methods, characterization techniques, and novel applications of these materials have sparked research interest worldwide. The objective of this Special Issue titled "Advances in Two-Dimensional Materials: From Synthesis to Applications" is to highlight recent breakthroughs in the field of 2D materials, spanning the entire spectrum from synthesis to applications. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the cutting-edge research, with a focus on the latest advances and emerging trends.

In particular, the topic of interest includes but is not limited to:

- The synthesis and characterization of 2D materials;

- The physical and chemical properties of 2D materials;

- Structure–property relationships in 2D materials;

- Modification of 2D materials via heterojunctions;

- Modification of 2D materials via doping;

- Transport phenomena and electronic properties of 2D materials;

- Defect engineering, strain engineering, and surface functionalization;

- The applications in energy storage and conversion, electronics, sensing, and biomedical fields.

This Special Issue provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in 2D materials research, from their synthesis to applications. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and scientists in the fields of material science, nanotechnology, and other related areas. By bringing together a diverse range of contributions from experts in the field, this Special Issue aims to provide a platform for knowledge exchange, inspire further research directions, and catalyze collaborations among researchers in the exciting field of 2D materials.

We welcome researchers who are working in the field of material science, nanotechnology, and other related disciplines to submit their latest research findings, advances, and practical applications. The article types can be original research papers, review articles, or brief communications.

Dr. Liang Xu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • two-dimensional materials
  • synthesis methods
  • doping
  • heterojunctions
  • semiconductor
  • photocatalysts
  • energy storage and conversion
  • electronics
  • optoelectronics
  • sensing
  • biomedical applications

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 8933 KiB  
Article
Tunable Electronic and Optical Properties of MoGe2N4/AlN and MoSiGeN4/AlN van der Waals Heterostructures toward Optoelectronic and Photocatalytic Applications
by Jingyao Shao, Jian Zeng, Bin Xiao, Zhenwu Jin, Qiyun Wang, Zhengquan Li, Ling-Ling Wang, Kejun Dong and Liang Xu
Coatings 2024, 14(4), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14040500 - 18 Apr 2024
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Abstract
Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures provide an effective strategy for exploring and expanding the potential applications of two-dimensional materials. In this study, we employ first-principles density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the geometric, electronic, and optical properties of MoGe2N4/AlN [...] Read more.
Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures provide an effective strategy for exploring and expanding the potential applications of two-dimensional materials. In this study, we employ first-principles density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the geometric, electronic, and optical properties of MoGe2N4/AlN and MoSiGeN4/AlN vdW heterostructures. The stable MoGe2N4/AlN heterostructure exhibits an indirect band gap semiconductor with a type-I band gap arrangement, making it suitable for optoelectronic devices. Conversely, the stable MoSiGeN4/AlN heterostructure demonstrates various band gap arrangements depending on stacking modes, rendering it suitable for photocatalysis applications. Additionally, we analyze the effects of mechanical strain and vertical electric field on the electronic properties of these heterostructures. Our results indicate that both mechanical strain and vertical electric field can adjust the band gap. Notably, application of an electric field or mechanical strain leads to the transformation of the MoGe2N4/AlN heterostructure from a type-I to a type-II band alignment and from an indirect to a direct band transfer, while MoSiGeN4/AlN can transition from a type-II to a type-I band alignment. Type-II band alignment is considered a feasible scheme for photocatalysis, photocells, and photovoltaics. The discovery of these characteristics suggests that MoGe2N4/AlN and MoSiGeN4/AlN vdW heterostructures, despite their high lattice mismatch, hold promise as tunable optoelectronic materials with excellent performance in optoelectronic devices and photocatalysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Two-Dimensional Materials: From Synthesis to Applications)
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13 pages, 3605 KiB  
Article
Two-Dimensional SiH/g-C3N4 van der Waals Type-II Heterojunction Photocatalyst: A New Effective and Promising Photocatalytic Material
by Qi Wang, Qian Zhu, Lei Cao, Lanlan Fan, Feng Gu, Ying Zhang, Chenglin Zheng, Shixian Xiong and Liang Xu
Coatings 2024, 14(3), 263; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14030263 - 22 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1169
Abstract
The two-dimensional layered heterostructure have been demonstrated as an effective method for achieving efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production. In this work, we propose, for the first time, the creation of van der Waals heterostructures from monolayers of SiH and g-C3N4 using [...] Read more.
The two-dimensional layered heterostructure have been demonstrated as an effective method for achieving efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production. In this work, we propose, for the first time, the creation of van der Waals heterostructures from monolayers of SiH and g-C3N4 using first-principle calculations. We also systematically investigated additional properties for the first time, such as the electronic structure and optical behavior of van der Waals heterostructures composed of SiH and g-C3N4 monolayers. The results of this study show that the SiH/g-C3N4 heterostructure is categorized as a type-II heterostructure, which has a bandgap of 2.268 eV. Furthermore, the SiH/g-C3N4 heterostructure interface was observed to efficiently separate and transfer photogenerated charges, resulting in an enhanced photocatalytic redox performance. Moreover, the calculation of HOMO (Highest occupied molecular orbital) and LUMO (Least unoccupied molecular orbital) and charge density difference can further confirm that the SiH/g-C3N4 heterojunction is a type-II heterojunction, which has excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production and water decomposition performance. In addition, the SiH/g-C3N4 heterostructure exhibited excellent HER (Hydrogen evolution reaction) efficiency. This is essential for the process of photocatalytic water splitting. In SiH/g-C3N4 heterojunctions, the redox potential required for water splitting is spanned by the band edge potential. Calculating the absorption spectra, it was discovered that the SiH/g-C3N4 heterostructure possesses outstanding optical properties within the visible-light range, implying its high efficiency in photocatalytic hydrogen production. This research provides a broader research direction for the investigation of novel efficient photocatalysts and offers effective theoretical guidance for future efficient photocatalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Two-Dimensional Materials: From Synthesis to Applications)
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