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（2D）纳米片在包括光子学、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的各种领域中引起了极大的关注。然而，生产这些具有高纯度和限定结构的2D纳米片是极具挑战性的。这个为期两年的项目旨在开发一种可持续的，创新的，可扩展的，可靠的和高产的战略，用于生产纯相单层或少层石墨烯类材料的2D纳米片。典型的过程将涉及大阳离子电化学插入层状材料的层间空间，然后进行温和的剥离过程。通过这种策略将制备大量原子级薄的纳米片，包括但不限于石墨烯、硼氢化物、磷烯、硅烯、锗烯、六方氮化硼、过渡金属二硫属化物、石墨碳氮化物、金属碳化物和氮化物。高素质的人员（博士后，研究生，暑期本科生）将通过这个拟议的项目在这一研究领域的战略重要性，阿尔伯塔和加拿大进行培训。

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.