Stimuli‐Responsive 2D Materials Beyond Graphene

Abstract

The development of graphene‐based responsive material has gained tremendous attention in recent decades and has led to search for alternative 2D materials beyond graphene. In recent years, due to their large surface‐to‐volume ratio, atomic thickness, and excellent selectivity of molecular adsorption, 2D materials beyond graphene, including hexagonal boron nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorus, and MXenes, have exhibited great potential in stimuli‐responsiveness. This review explores the five representative stimulus behaviors (temperature, light, gas, electric, and water) of 2D materials beyond graphene and their applications in sensors, detectors, smart devices, photothermal therapy, and actuators. To understand these stimuli‐responsive behaviors in depth, the typical responsive mechanisms are also described. This review summarizes the recent progress in stimuli‐responsive 2D materials beyond graphene and future perspectives to inspire broader and more combined designs using multiple stimuli, and to motivate more exciting developments based on these promising 2D materials beyond graphene.

Stimuli‐Responsive MXene‐Based Actuators

“…[5][6][7][8] Like various 2D materials, MXenes display stimuli-responsive behavior. [9] For example, some types of MXenes, individually or together with other materials, have been reported to respond to many stimulants such as electrical field (Nb 2 CT x , Ti 3 C 2 T x ), carbon dioxide and temperature (V 2 CT x ), relative humidity been thoroughly studied. [3,6] Among them, some properties that have been proven in diverse applications could be helpful and exploitable in stimuli-responsive actuators.…”

“…[ 5–8 ] Like various 2D materials, MXenes display stimuli‐responsive behavior. [ 9 ] For example, some types of MXenes, individually or together with other materials, have been reported to respond to many stimulants such as electrical field (Nb 2 CT x , Ti 3 C 2 T x ), carbon dioxide and temperature (V 2 CT x ), relative humidity (RH) (Ti 3 C 2 T x ) and light (Ti 3 C 2 T x ); these materials have been employed in areas of electrorheological fluids, smart systems, electromagnetic shielding, and photothermal therapy, respectively. [ 10–12 ] Therefore, MXenes can be applied to stimuli‐responsive actuators.…”

Formation processes, size changes, and properties of nanosheets derived from exfoliation of soft layered inorganic–organic composites

“…[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Anisotropic nanostructures exhibit characteristic properties different from those of bulk materials and isotropic morphologies. [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Exfoliation is a general route to obtain nanosheets from precursor layered materials. However, exfoliation routes face a number of challenges, such as control of the size, improvement of the yield, and modication of the nanosheet surface.…”

Molecularly engineered switchable photo-responsive membrane in gas separation for environmental protection

“…However, designing a functional stimulus-responsive material still poses a challenge as they require complicated coordination between the responsive material and the stimulus to get an output that can be measured [31][32][33]. The preservation of responsiveness function after incorporation on surfaces, at interfaces or in the material itself is key [34].…”