High yield production of phase-pure mono- or few-layer two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets of graphene like materials by electrochemical exfoliation

石墨烯类材料的二维纳米片在光子学、电子学、光电子学、磁学、能量产生和存储、催化、环境修复和生物应用等领域引起了极大的关注。然而，要生产出纯度高、结构明确的2D纳米薄片是非常具有挑战性的。这一拟议的为期两年的项目旨在开发一种可持续、创新、可扩展、可靠和高产量的战略，用于生产相纯的单层或少层类石墨烯2D纳米片。典型的过程包括将大阳离子电化学插层到层状材料的层间空间中，然后是一个温和的剥离过程。通过这一策略将制备大量原子薄的纳米片，包括但不限于石墨烯、硼烯、磷烯、硅烯、锗、六方氮化硼、过渡金属二卤化物、石墨化碳氮化物、金属碳化物和氮化物。通过这个拟议的项目，高素质的人员(博士后、研究生、暑期本科生)将在这一对艾伯塔省和加拿大具有战略重要性的研究领域进行培训。

Two dimensional (2D) nanosheets of graphene-like materials have attracted great attention in diverse fields including photonics, electronics, optoelectronics, magnetism, energy generation and storage, catalysis, environment remediation, and bio-application, to name but a few. However, producing these 2D nanosheets with high purity and defined structure is extremely challenging. This proposed two-year project aims to develop a sustainable, innovative, scalable, reliable, and high-yield strategy for producing phase-pure mono- or few-layer 2D nanosheets of graphene-like materials. The typical procedure will involve an electrochemical intercalation of large cations into the interlayer spaces of layered materials, followed by a mild exfoliation process. Large numbers of atomically thin nanosheets will be prepared by this strategy, including but not limited to graphene, borophene, phosphorene, silicene, germanene, hexagonal boron nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides, graphitic carbon nitride, metal carbides and nitrides. The highly qualified personnel (postdoc, graduate students, summer undergraduates) will be trained in this research area of strategic importance to Alberta and Canada through this proposed project.