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

二维（2D）纳米石墨烯类材料在光子学、电子学、光电子学、磁学、能源生成与存储、催化、环境修复、生物应用等领域受到广泛关注。然而，生产这些高纯度和结构明确的二维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、可靠的和高产的策略来生产相纯的单层或多层二维纳米片石墨烯类材料。典型的过程将包括大阳离子的电化学插入到层状材料的层间空间，然后是一个温和的剥离过程。通过这种策略将制备大量的原子薄纳米片，包括但不限于石墨烯、硼烯、磷烯、硅烯、锗烯、六方氮化硼、过渡金属二硫族化合物、石墨氮化碳、金属碳化物和氮化物。通过该项目，将培养对阿尔伯塔省和加拿大具有战略意义的研究领域的高素质人才（博士后、研究生、暑期本科生）。

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.