Chemical modification of 2D materials using molecules and assemblies of molecules

ABSTRACT

In this article, we discuss the recent progress on controlled structural modification of 2D materials by means of molecular functionalization, with a focus on scanning probe microscopy techniques for their characterization. For many practical applications of these novel materials, it is necessary to tune their electronic and optical properties, and molecule-based functionalization is a powerful approach to reach this. We discuss recent covalent and non-covalent approaches, for functionalization of graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorus, and hexagonal boron nitride. Nanostructuring approaches and their impact on 2D materials’ properties are highlighted.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Graphene
• transition metal dichalcogenides
• hexagonal boron nitride
• black phosphorus
• functionalization
• scanning probe microscopy

Acknowledgments

This work has received funding from the Fund of Scientific Research–Flanders (FWO), KU Leuven Internal Funds, and the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC Grant Agreement No. 340324. J. S. acknowledges financial support through a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (EU project 789865 - EnSurf).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the FP7 Ideas: European Research Council [340324];Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek;H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions [789865].